Democracy Stirs In Spain

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 14

Democracy Stirs In Spain

The constitutional reforms which General Franco is expected to announce to the Cortes next Tuesday reflect the growing impatience of young Spaniards with the country’s authoritarian regime. Franco’s campaign to annex Gibraltar has failed to divert attention from domestic issues. Certainly the Franco regime has done much to ease controls recently—without entirely surrendering its powers. This year the labour laws have been amended to permit “ economic ” but not “ political ” strikes. A new press law abolished direct censorship—although it was emphasised at the time that the intention was to promote “liberty compatible with public order”. Parliamentary committee debates, for instance, were opened to the press. The views of spokesmen opposing the regime also began to be heard in discussions of probable constitutional changes. Two long-promised constitutional measures are now awaited—one to enable the appointment of a premier to share General Franco’s powers, the other to indicate his wishes concerning the monarchy, which was legally restored in 1947 although the throne remained vacant. General Franco’s announcement that Parliament is to be summoned on November 22 to hear a message of “ fundamental importance ” suggests that the period of waiting may be over, and that some at least of the doubts concerning the future are about to be resolved. It is unlikely that General Franco, in spite of his 74 years, intends to step down now, although the surrender of the premiership would be a first move towards abdication. The General is proud of the stability of Spain since the Civil War; but he must also be aware of the political ferment around him. The new freedom of discussion permitted to the newspapers, though cautiously used, has clearly shown a sharp revival of the old political groupings—the Socialists, Communists, Anarchists, Catholic militants, the Falange, the Monarchists. The lay Catholic group, Opus Dei, is already regarded as a political force. There is also a new restiveness within the universities. Student demonstrations have been harshly repressed and the University of Barcelona was closed when professors joined students in opposing dictatorship. A period of shifting coalitions seems certain to result from any relaxation of the ban on political parties unless General Franco decides to install his own successor as Head of Government, name his nominee among the several royal pretenders, and keep control largely in his own hands during the transitional period. After three decades of dictatorship orderly constitutional change cannot come overnight The appearance of stability among disparate political elements may be maintained so long as General Franco’s authority survives. It is obvious, therefore, that a return to constitutional government will have to be gradual. The General’s sudden departure could lead to bitter political warfare, even to a second period of dictatorship. He will be anxious to guard against that possibility.