FRANCO: THE LAST INQUISITOR

2025 will mark the 50^th anniversary of the death of Western Europe’s last dictator. Known as “El Caudillo” (the warlord), Francisco Franco ruled unchallenged for almost 40 years. An incredible longevity, a nightmare from which the now democratic Spain still bears the scars.

Franco was long underestimated, yet he ruled longer than any of his fellow fascist leaders. And - unlike Hitler or Mussolini - he was eventually accepted by democracies. After four decades of tyranny, he died in his own bed in November 1975. How was this possible? How did he maneuver to stay in power? After seizing power with the military putsch of 1936, Franco launched a crusade against the Republic with the help of the Catholic Church - and did not hesitate to exterminate his opponents by the tens of thousands. For many, he is a monster. But despite his crimes, many activists continue to honor him today…

At a time when religion and fundamentalism are making a “comeback”, Franco’s story teaches us about the concept of “holy war”, this time from the Western side. We’ll be telling this story through archives, but also through the voices of those on both sides who lived through this terrible period and whose words testify that political violence was too quickly forgotten.