The war is over.” This is how Franco signed his last report. But there is no declaration about the end of the dictatorship and the transition. When did the transition that gave way to the disputed regime of 78 end? In 1978, 81, 82?
There are three ways of understanding history: that of those who lived it, that of historians and that of those who invent it. The transition does not escape this tug-of-war. Some praise it, others hate it and for everyone it is already a book chapter. It is curious to see how certain current characters have gone through the three visions. Supporters of the democratic “rupture” in their time, today they praise the “reform” that ended up winning. And vice versa: they are for another break, whether from leftism or the extreme right.
So far the facts. But basically everyone agrees that the transition is over. Although maybe not. Yes, democracy has prevailed. But let’s see. As then, there are still three political giants: continuationists, reformists and ruptureists. And like then, we don’t know what historical time we live in: we never knew we were “in transition” and everything was uncertain.
We are not fooled. There was no pre-established plan, nor was there a grand overarching pact. The transition obeyed a correlation of forces. Like now. And like now, democracy could not be taken for granted. She is an ongoing and endless process. The transition is not over. It is a fossil convention and word like others. But in its purpose it is alive.
There is plenty left to “transit” towards democratic fullness or simply the full application of everything that the Constitution entails. So that there is a real reconciliation between territories, parties and people. So that we have better politicians who are more committed to the general interest. And it’s still not true that all Spaniards are the same: the vote in a big city is worth four times less than in a less populated province. We also talk about nationalities, the law of Parties, the Senate, the Judiciary, the right to housing… In a democracy, the transition never ends.
