DBWI: A Democratic Spain after Franco

As we all known, due to the pressure of the inner circle that surrounded him and, in no lesser degree, due to the efforts of his wife, Carmen Polo, and his daughter, Carmen Franco y Polo, Francisco Franco changed his will and declared in 1974 Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, duke of Cádiz, who was married to Franco's granddaughter, Carmen Martínez-Bordiu, as his heir.

Alfonso XIV's regime became "Pinochetized", as some historians point out today, as the new regime slowly moved away from the failed and hardly attempted democractic reforms carried out by Carlos Arias Navarro and became a de facto militar dictatorship with a king as a figure head that, eventually, would collapse in 1988.

However... What if Franco had decided not to change his will at all and allowed Juan Carlos de Borbón to become his successor. Would Juan Carlos be able to move away from the principles of the Movimiento and create a truly democratic Spain? Would the divided democratic opposition have accepted Juan Carlos as king if he had been placed in the throne by Franco's order? And, had he been successful in his attempt, would the democratic regime have lasted at all?
 
There were some doubts about Juan Carlos and how long he was to last as king. Perhaps after a few months his regime would have collapsed, under pressure from the right and the left wings. So perhaps the Third Republic may came even sooner than it did.
 
That's true. Some members of the then ilegal democratic parties were talking about implementing some kind of "autonomous regions" system (whatever this was), that may have softened the rise of indepentism that the failed regime of Alfonso IV caused with their heavy handed and ill-advised centralist process.

However, what would had happened if, in that alternative monarchist regime under Juan Carlos I, the Communist party, the PCE, would have been made legal? Would the armed forces and the ultra-right parties swallowed that measure?
 

Don Quijote

Banned
That's true. Some members of the then ilegal democratic parties were talking about implementing some kind of "autonomous regions" system (whatever this was), that may have softened the rise of indepentism that the failed regime of Alfonso IV caused with their heavy handed and ill-advised centralist process.

However, what would had happened if, in that alternative monarchist regime under Juan Carlos I, the Communist party, the PCE, would have been made legal? Would the armed forces and the ultra-right parties swallowed that measure?
Juan Carlos would be able to get away with legalising the PSOE, as there were plenty of modernisers who were able to tolerate a reasonably left wing opposition. Legalising the PCE is a step too far even for the Government, let alone the Army. Blas Piñar and co. would have been shouting for blood, and the ultra generals would probably have obliged them.
 
I doubt it.

Me too. Too risky.

Juan Carlos would be able to get away with legalising the PSOE, as there were plenty of modernisers who were able to tolerate a reasonably left wing opposition. Legalising the PCE is a step too far even for the Government, let alone the Army. Blas Piñar and co. would have been shouting for blood, and the ultra generals would probably have obliged them.

Indeed. A "tamed" PSOE within the boundaries of a democratic system would be a propagandistic victory ("see, we even allow socialists to join the system"), but the PCE? Out of the question. The Generals (most of them had fought in the SCW and even in the ranks of the Blue Division) would shout "treason!" at once.

Would the Communists accept this situation?
 

Don Quijote

Banned
Me too. Too risky.



Indeed. A "tamed" PSOE within the boundaries of a democratic system would be a propagandistic victory ("see, we even allow socialists to join the system"), but the PCE? Out of the question. The Generals (most of them had fought in the SCW and even in the ranks of the Blue Division) would shout "treason!" at once.

Would the Communists accept this situation?
Would they have a choice? The OTL post-Franco government managed it, so a government led by Juan Carlos and whatever Prime Minister he appointed could do the same. On the other hand Juan Carlos has shown himself to be quite politically progressive, although that may merely be a response to the direction Spain has taken in the hope that they will restore the Borbon monarchy. The main pro-monarchy party, Alianza Conservadora (backed by Juan Carlos), has been clear that it supports full political freedom of expression since its foundation in 1992.
 
Alianza Conservadora... that name reminds me of a Spanish politician that was considered the dark horse of the moment, Adolfo Suárez, that under Alfonso XIV et al came to nothing. Perhaps he would have fared better in this timeline.
 

Don Quijote

Banned
Alianza Conservadora... that name reminds me of a Spanish politician that was considered the dark horse of the moment, Adolfo Suárez, that under Alfonso XIV et al came to nothing. Perhaps he would have fared better in this timeline.
Herrero Tejedor's protege? He doesn't strike me as especially likely to be an important figure, he was competent but not very inspirational. Tejedor himself was more likely to become PM under Juan Carlos.
 
Top