If there is something more Spanish than paella, “siesta” or sunny beaches is, without any doubt, the attachment of its society to the big, old political symbols of the past.
The inheritance of 40 years of Francoism has left a substantial mark on the institutions of the country.
While in the United Kingdom the significant moments of the past are marked by the participation of the nation in the Second World war, the most powerful time in the history of Spain is still a civil war, a representation of division and the opposite of a national occasion of pride and fraternity.
The division of the Spanish society is, because of this key momentum, very obvious in different aspects of the country. Whereas part of the population walks towards the modernity and progress of the European ideas there is still a large percent of the citizens of the country who keep themselves immersed in the structural basics of Franco’s vision of society.
The profound roots of the catholic church blaze in political events, victim memorials and symbolic occasions organised by the country’s Government, even when this state declares in its constitution that has not an official religion.
The Royal family of Spain, tainted by corruption scandals, family outrages and dodgy business dealings with the Saudi Arabian monarchy, is still an important emblem of the country. It should be noted that the king, Felipe VI, still maintains the position of head of state, beside his palpable lack of real political power in the nation.
The conclusive evidence of the persistence of Franco’s values are found, certainly, in the success of the political party Vox, that brings back to the Spanish public the reactionary beliefs of the old guard.
Their demands, concentrated in controversial speeches and interviews, include a blind patriotism based in the hatred of change, the rejection of immigrants, the denial of the structural violence against women or the total aversion against any independence projects from the different communities of the country, such as Catalonia or Galicia.
The rejection of some core values of every democracy makes these old principles dangerous for the stability of the country, the defence of everybody’s rights and the hope of a better future for the whole of society.
If there is something more Spanish than paella, “siesta” or sunny beaches is, sadly, the constant choice of part of its people for the fine balance between progress and growth and the return of the country towards the devastating mistakes of the past.
A tiny world 