Spain: Are some things better left unsaid?

As Spaniards head to the polls this weekend, the shadow ofthe civil war looms largely over proceedings. With the recent exhumation of Francisco Franco’s remains, old woundshave been opened, which begs the question, are some things better left unsaid?

The memory of a brutal civil war that recently reached itseightieth anniversary has yet to be dealt with. Spain’s two elections in the space of eight months shows us an uneasypolitical deadlock, mirroring similar stalemates across the globe but with onecrucial difference.  The self-imposedsilence of eighty years is beginning to find a voice.

On the 1st April 1939, three years of civil war which splitfamilies, friends and communities came to an end, ushering in almost fortyyears of dictatorship.

Fast-forward eighty years and the events of that time stillremain raw, unresolved and worryingly undiscussed.  As Spain’s politicians vie for attention,sound bites and most importantly votes, the issue of the civil war stillremains a difficult and fragile topic of discussion.

So much so, that on the 24th October 2019, when the Spanishgovernment led by Pedro Sanchez, proceeded to exhume the remains of thedictator from his resting place at the Valley of the Fallen, it was met with achorus of criticism on both sides of the political divide.

Whilst this controversial and highly symbolic act had beencontested in September by Franco’s family in the Supreme Court, Sanchez claimedthat “Spain is fulfilling its duty to itself”.

Meanwhile, cries of outrage from Sanchez’s political rivalsechoed across the airwaves, ranging from the left-wing Podemos leader PabloIglesias, the more centrist Albert Rivera, as well as the relative newcomer onthe scene, Santiago Abascal, representing the far-right Vox party.  All those preparing for the election expressedcriticism of the timing and its use for political gain.

Unfortunately, whilst the general election seeks to resolvethe political impasse and months of failure to agree on a coalition, the woundsof the civil war will continue to feature in the rhetoric of all Spanishpoliticians now and in the future.

Under Sanchez’s recent leadership, plans for a “TruthCommission” to investigate the war and prioritise its “historical memory”, haveincluded identifying mass graves, opening up the archives and outlawing groupswhich continue to honour Franco.

At the forefront of discussions is the issue of loved onesseeking to locate the remains of those murdered during the violence.  The extent of these mass graves is thought toreach horrendous proportions with only Cambodia having more mass graves thanSpain.

With that in mind, the political classes across the spectrumwill have to tread carefully when dealing with such a delicate and unsettledmatter.  No longer able to obliterate itfor the sake of moving on and embracing a new era of democracy, Spain faces anew chapter in deciding how to define its future and discuss its past.

Atrocities committed on both sides in the 1930’s and the eraof Franco which followed meant that once the dictator had died, for the sake ofmaintaining a calm social equilibrium, a “pact of oblivion” became thepolitical tactic of choice.

A veil of silence with the aim of focusing firmly on thefuture arose from a collective decision to restrain grievances and give up onrevenge.

Whilst this in itself could be seen as an admirable wayforward in light of such division and potential crises, in the years thatfollowed, very few attempts were made at dealing with the topic.  In fact, in 1986, the 50th anniversary of thebeginning of the war had no official commemoration at all.

With a strong desire not to evoke or stir social andpolitical feelings, moving on was the only policy.  Today, this path has reached its naturalconclusion.

The Spanish Civil War emerged out of a complex situationwhich crossed demographics, geography, and tussled with reform, reaction andtradition.  Local nationalisms were alsoat the forefront of these divisions and with Catalan protests in full swingtoday, the fallout of a divided society rears its head.

The incarceration of pro-independence Catalan leaders hascaused an upsurge in demonstrations in recent weeks.  Outrage, disbelief and strongly heldconvictions amongst many have created a febrile atmosphere in which thousandshave taken to the streets.

Pedro Sanchez’s recent visit to Catalonia was met withboo’s, whilst King Felipe’s picture was seen being torched in an act ofdefiance for those supporting the separatist movement.

With the resolution of these issues at stake, the results ofthe upcoming elections will be more important than ever in determining theoutcome.  Years of not speaking has ledto simmering resentments, a mismanagement of the narrative and a difficultchoice for Spain and its political classes.

As a country recovering from a dictatorship its progress isremarkable. Today, Spain has the capacity to make a variety of choices abouthow to deal with its violent past and the way it wants to proceed into thefuture.

Jessica Brain