The death of the dictator Francisco Franco and with it the return of Spain to democracy will be celebrated for the 50th time in 2025. Reason to celebrate – but not for everyone. While the central government under the socialist Pedro Sánchez announces around 100 commemorations and events under the motto “Spain in Freedom”, Spain’s right is once again up in arms. To this day, she sees the “Generalísimo” not as a tyrant, but as a defender and modernizer of the fatherland. Sánchez has “gone completely crazy,” explains the President of the Madrid capital region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and accuses the Spanish head of government of wanting to “set the streets on fire and stir up violence” by giving the extreme left a stage with his series of events offer. She will not take part in the commemorations.
