The solution to Spain’s problems

It’s not often that a country can solve a serious, endemic problem quickly, easily and at no expense at all. But Spain can.

The problem is some of the country’s left-wing politicians’ harmful ignorance of Spain’s 20^th century history – and in particular about what actually happened during the Second Republic (1931-1936) and the resulting civil war (1936-1939). Not knowing the history, they constantly frame 21st century Spanish politics as a continuation of that war. Their misunderstandings and misrepresentations are holding Spain back.

Unfortunately, many on the left fondly imagine that they are the proud heirs of noble republicans who fought for democracy against General Franco’s fascist forces. And when politicians of the two right-wing parties, the Partido Popular and Vox, point out that in fact those republicans themselves can hardly be regarded as freedom-loving democrats, they are immediately condemned as beyond the pale ‘Franco apologists’. Yet both right-wing parties are in fact staunch defenders of Spain’s democratic constitution.