Image: from Robando Tu Tiempo X@robandotutiempo
By Isabella Harper | Staff Writer with Agencies
Madrid witnessed a renewed display of far-right nostalgia on Friday as hundreds of Spanish fascists marched through the capital, just one day after the nation marked fifty years since the death of former dictator Francisco Franco. The demonstration underscored Spain’s ongoing struggle to reconcile with a past that continues to shape its political and social landscape.
The march was organised by the Falange, a group that identifies as the ideological heir to the fascist movements that backed Franco’s rise to power during the brutal 1936–1939 civil war. Declaring their opposition to modern Spain’s democratic structure, participants protested what they denounced as the “1978 constitutional regime”. That constitution, drafted after Franco’s death, paved the way for Spain’s transition to democracy.
Demonstrators made fascist salutes and carried Franco-era flags as they paid tribute to Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the original Falange. His execution on November 20, 1936, shares a date with Franco’s death, making the anniversary a symbolic rallying point for far-right extremists.
The procession moved from the headquarters of the conservative Popular Party to the offices of the ruling Socialist Party, PSOE. Videos circulating online showed participants chanting “National unity” and “PSOE, PP, it is the same war”, slogans meant to portray Spain’s mainstream political parties as enemies of nationalist ideology. Marchers also unfurled an anti-migrant banner, echoing broader far-right narratives across Europe.
Among those present was Orsola Mussolini, great-granddaughter of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Her attendance highlighted the transnational links among European far-right groups, as Mussolini’s regime provided early military support to Franco during the civil war, alongside Nazi Germany.
Authorities estimated that around 700 people participated in the march, and a significant police deployment awaited them near the Socialist Party headquarters to prevent escalation.
Spain has spent much of this year grappling with Franco’s legacy. Political disputes over historical memory laws, attempts to rehabilitate victims of the dictatorship and a rising tide of far-right rhetoric have intensified polarization. Public commemorations of Franco and Primo de Rivera remain heavily contested, with many Spaniards calling for stricter measures against fascist glorification.
In response to Friday’s march, anti-fascist groups announced a counter-demonstration for Saturday, reflecting the deep rifts that persist in Spanish society half a century after the end of Franco’s regime.
As Spain continues to confront its past, events like these reveal how unresolved historical wounds still influence its present and may continue to shape its political evolution.
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