Word: franco
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...film in many ways, and this very sadness is the key to comprehending the human side of political struggle. The action takes place in Spain and France, and it's about a group of people who are still trying to win the Spanish Civil War 25 years after Franco had already sealed his victory...
Last month Arias backed down on a promise to allow the formation of political "associations" (nascent parties), which have been banned throughout Franco's rule. The same day General Manuel Díez Alegría, the comparatively progressive chief of staff of the armed forces, was sacked. All during May, General Díez Alegría had regularly received a monocle in his mail-a pointed hint that he should emulate Portugal's António de Spínola and liberate Spain. To foreclose the possibility he was replaced by the more reliable General Carlos...
Although the army is the only Spanish institution strong enough to perpetuate Franco's power, it lacks a strong and compelling leader. Franco has systematically cashiered military upstarts who showed signs of building a popular following, and there are no signs of political dissension in the rank and file. Civilian moderates have held no real power in the government since the relatively liberal Opus Dei technocrats were booted out of the Cabinet after Carrero Blanco's assassination...
...While Franco lives, most Spaniards see no likelihood of political change. But no one can be sure how long that will be. On "good days," he keeps up a reasonable schedule, but at other times he may be completely senile. When Vice President Gerald Ford arrived in Madrid last December, Franco was in such poor shape that it was difficult to arrange a protocol visit. Spanish television recently had to cancel a film that was to have shown the dictator fishing. It was a bad day, and Franco had to be propped up by two aides...
...Until now, everyone seemed to think that Franco would be eternal," said one of Spain's leading editors last week. "Now there is a lot of looking into the future. The trouble is that all you see is a giant vacuum. Like any good dictator, Franco has made sure there is no successor." That failing could some day mean grave trouble for Spain...