Anniversaries

Today, more Spaniards than ever are called to the ballot boxes -in fact, they have been voting since 10 am until... 8 pm, I guess. Well, 9 pm, since the time in Canary Islands is one hour behind. T

The date was refused, inquired, talked about initially for some reasons, on the grounds of being the anniversary -one year more- of Francisco Franco's death. The general finally died in the night of November 20th, 1975, event expected from at least a year back, since he suffered a thrombophlebitis attack.

The influence, real and psychological, of Franco on the Spanish society is massive, even today. The guy has been death for 36 years (I wasn't even born at the time), but the pillars of the national skeleton he created are essentially intact (DNI, Social Security System, Tourism, Traffic Civil Guard, Care System). Some other pillars are even in worst shape: judges controlling politician are not independent, but are elected by them (following the socialist reformation of Judicial Law in 1985), and the Nationalism or Regionalism has elevated the problem of national identity to all institutions and administrations.

Franco has been an obsession for Spaniards in democracy; certainly, much before 2004. I don't quite understand why. Anyhow, the wounds from Franquism seem to be now more inflamed than ever as. A huge part of the blame is on PSOE; during a disastrous period 2004 - 2011, started with the most horrendous terrorist attack in Europe in all history (to this day, unexplained and unsettled), the until-today (let's hope, we only have to wait a few more hours) party in Government (PSOE) maliciously helped open injuries again by, for example, enforcing laws "of national memory" which were not in its electoral program, absolutely unnecessary, to my view: an unfair and pure political movement out of any touch with reality. There was this judge, very-well renowned internationally and a very-well known, shameless brass-neck, for example, who just a couple of years ago ordered to exhume Franco's body to verify his death (!!!)... Despite the fact that millions watched his funeral on TV.

This anniversary has for PSOE similar connotations in one sense to that of 20-N in 1975, to my view: a time closed to non-existence. Not long ago, the PSOE celebrated 100 years in the Parliament. There is not much to boast about, though, because during the times of Franco PSOE was almost nonexistent. "100 years of honesty", said their propaganda; and some used to add: "And 40 in vacation". If PSOE did not exist at Franco's death time as a real, organized political structure, today seems to be falling apart. PSOE can only show a haggard countenance, it has no other one, not a single side of trustfulness and authenticity; PSOE has become a victim of its own dishonesty, unlawful techniques and incompetency.

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What most people do not know is that precisely on another Nov 20, in 1936, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera was executed to dead in a prison in Alicante. He was the founder of Falange.

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For me, Nov 20 has a special meaning. A day before, last year, I arrived in London. I exhausted the 2-week notice, left my previous work office at 11 am and found myself in London, Russell Square tube station, around 7 pm. That's it. One year has gone by!

But on Nov 20th, I met M. for a pint and a cold walk-around looking for Camden People's Theatre. The day in London has been today alike to that day:cold and misty, misterious and promising. A beautiful autumn day. It is my anniversary, my special anniversary. If I had to save one thing this year... Only one, ok? That would be it; a person, a woman: M.

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