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While browsing in El Corte Ingles, I had a phone call from a nice sounding young gitano.

Towards the end of the call, I wrote down his number and asked him to repeat his name.

“Franco”.

“Franco?” I asked -him sounding like a fairly young chap.

“Franco” he confirmed, somewhat defiantly,  “despite being a gitano, I am called Franco”.

Fair enough. His defiant tone did make me laugh, though. Plus, say the name “Franco” in El Cortes Ingles and lots of elderly rich Spaniards doing their shopping pause and smile.

Left wing coalition party Izquierda Unida, on this the anniversary week of the Constitution of Spain, has pointed out that, technically, deceased dictator Francisco Franco is still the honorary mayor of Almería city, an honour “bestowed” upon him in 1943 (only a few years after his Nazi friends had spent three days using the city as target practice, killing quite a few) and confirmed in 1950. While the honour was not in perpetuity, as it was never removed as required by protocol upon his death it is still technically active.

8 other high honours, bestowed upon him and his cronies by the then Townhall and Diputacion of Almería are still active, and Izquierda Unida say it’s high time to get rid of them. Strangely, in declarations to the press, neither PSOE nor PP seem to have summoned up much enthusiasm for this, probably not wanting to stir up that whole hornets nest. Maybe if the La Mojonera Riots rumble on they’ll say something to distract the press?

El Ferrol -Francos birthplace, and the wettest town in Spain, up in the top left corner of Spain- has voted to disown its most famous son. He has been stripped of his title of “Honoury Mayor” of El Ferrol. He has also been stipped of his title of “Favourite son” (Hijo Predilictio).

I notice that all the various political groups voted in favour of these two measures, with the exception of the P.P. which abstained.

As secret plans are revealed under Spains version of the 30 year rule, showing that Franco ordered his generals to draw up plans in the early 70′s for the invasion of Portugal “in order to prevent the spread of Communism”, Spanish and Portuguese press are Not Quite Sure what to Make Of It.

I like “El Intermedios” view of it, as “El Gran Wyoming” (O Gran Polloming) imagines the Spanish invasion of Portugal followed by the loss of victory due to Franco overdoing the Vallium and the withdrawal to Murcia, followed by the collapse of Spain and occupation by Portugal. Portuguese TV then complaining about “freedom fighters in the Basque Province attempting to form a new country called… “Espana”". And then complaining about the product placement on Portuguese TV. “O Cota do Sol!” exclaims Africa Luca de Tena. “O destinacion prefido do turista guiri. Ahora con toalla! Suave confortable y ahore de textil!”. (In pseudo Portuguese – The favourite destination of the foriegner. Now with towels! Smooth, comfortable and now with textiles!” as she shows us a pile of towels.

Well, it’s funny if you see it on TV. All comments about the soverign integrity of the Basque Country or the beauty of the Portuguese language or how Franco is a god should be directed to La Sexta TV.

Paul Preston has created a wonderful profile on Franco, and this book has become the authoritive laymans guide to the only 20c Western European dictator to die peacefully in office.

Despite it’s initial size, this is a book that concisly explains the evolution of Franco from the early, eager military cadet to the cool, absent caudillo he became.

A wonderful book that reads more like a novel than a historical text, and I devoured it.

See Franco: A Biography on amazon.co.uk