Celebrating Democracy on the 50th Anniversary of the Death of the Spanish Dictator Franco

For Catalans, 20 November is a date of remembrance and celebration — not only because it marks the death of Spain’s last fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, but also because it reminds us that his ambitions, rooted in centuries of Spanish supremacism, have not succeeded in extinguishing Catalan identity, language or democratic aspirations.

Although Franco died in 1975, the machinery of his regime did not vanish with him. There were no dismissals, no cleansing of institutions. Judges, military officers, police, and senior officials who had served under the dictatorship remained in place. Rather than dismantle the regime, Franco ensured its continuity by restoring the Bourbon monarchy – installing a king he had personally groomed – as the guardian of Francoist values.

Unlike German fascism, Spanish fascism has never been put on trial. Crimes against humanity committed under Franco’s rule were met with impunity, and the repression continued after his death: more than 700 people were murdered after 1975. Without a renewal of judicial and institutional power, decades of authoritarianism simply carried on beneath the surface, even as the world believed democracy had arrived in Spain.

On this anniversary, we pay tribute to all those who suffered and died at the hands of this barbarity – children, women, and men targeted by a systemic Catalanophobia recognised by historians and international observers alike. Among them were prominent figures such as:

• Josep Sunyol i Garriga, President of FC Barcelona, assassinated in 1936 for his political beliefs and his defence of Catalanism.
• Lluís Companys, President of the Generalitat, executed by Franco’s forces in 1940. He faced death with unbroken dignity: eyes open, barefoot, and shouting his final words – “Per Catalunya!”

Lluís Companys i Jover

"We are a people who fight and, even if we suffer, we will win"

Their courage and sacrifice continue to inspire Catalans today as we strive for a free, democratic, and independent future.

Watch 16’ short film for more info: Catalonia: Peaceful Agreements or Bloody Papers? – YouTube

Celebrating Catalan Culture

Across the whole Catalan nation – both the territories under Spanish administration and those under French control – our people continue to resist the pressures of modern state imperialism. In an age of globalisation, national cultures without an independent and sovereign state often find themselves at a disadvantage. Yet we remain steadfast. As Francesc Pujols famously said:

“The Catalan spirit always sprouts and survives its deluded gravediggers.”

And the evidence is everywhere.

Catalan creativity continues to flourish with extraordinary vitality: 2,345 musical works referenced annually, 25 books published every day, and more than 200 specialised magazines produced in our language. These are not just statistics – they are proof that Catalan culture continues to stand tall and thrive despite constant obstacles.

A powerful example of this resilience can be found in the booming Catalan music scene. Concerts across the country are filled with young people proudly singing in Catalan – and often shouting for independence. Festivals such as CabróRock show how deeply rooted this cultural energy is. And in Barcelona, a new milestone has just been set: for years, the record for the largest single-artist concert attendance belonged to Coldplay. But now the Catalan group Oques Grasses has smashed that record spectacularly. All 55,000 tickets for their Olympic Stadium concert sold out in just 21 minutes, prompting the scheduling of four consecutive shows. That’s 220,000 people – mostly young, but not only – united in celebrating live Catalan music and culture.

So on 20 November, even though we still do not live in a free and fully democratic Catalan state, we celebrated. We celebrated because we know that, ultimately, the future belongs to us. Victory will be ours.

And in the words of Oques Grasses:

“So strange and so beautiful,
Between miracle and disaster is where we live.
A sky of lights to make you happy —
The night shines, and it shines for you,
Because you are here.”

Anna Arqué i Solsona