Francoist Spain: Fascist

[Radical Atom]

Most spaniards are kept in the dark about our country's recent history and sadly it gets quite literal, picture this: after Cambodia, Spain is the country with most disappeared people/mass graves in the world. The now ruling party (the ironically named People's Party *shudder*) is the spiritual successor of the regime, including having had some francoist ministers in its ranks, purposely sabotaging and fighting any effort of republican family members to be able to see the remains of their loved ones and refusing even to this day to unequivocally condemn the crimes of the Franco regime. Searching around and listening to some conversation about the topic, I was very much surprised to hear that some people say that, according to them: at least technically, Franco wasn't a full fledged fascist, more like an ultra-nationalist third positionist and his relationship with fascism being more due to his opportunism and cronyism, even being sometimes at odds with the Falange (the main fascist party of the nationalist side on the Spanish Civil War, and the only party during this scumfuck's rule), to the point that a part of Falange wanted him dead (citation needed). Having burnt in my mind the absolutely disgusting, despicable, dehumanizing experience that the Spanish people had to suffer, in a sort of irrational way, it was almost impossible to think of it as any other thing than fascism, I mean calling it anything else could not even begin to make justice to the injustice and suffering brought to a people who had been not long ago ready to fight for an awesome revolution that would transcend not only the "caciquista" and almost medieval the backwardness, corruption and superstition of the country, but even the most advanced capitalism of its time; a revolution towards socialism.
Feelings, however, do not matter at all when it comes to material reality. So:
Is third-positionism used wrongly by making it interchangeable with fascism? Aren't they somewhat equivalents, one pretending to be a more "acceptable" middle ground (something which many fascists do as well)? Or is it just white-washing by ideologues trying to paint a little less despicable picture by trying to wipe the fascist label? Anyone who's had access to more information than what this now "democracy" (but no less francoist) offers its citizens could shine a light on that?

There are some facts that everyone can agree on:
The nationalists were composed by fascists (national syndicalists they called themselves, whatever that means), monarchists, carlists (monarchists who favored a diferent line of succession to the throne) and various right wing groups.
The nationalists were militarily and economicaly supported by overtly fascist nations: the nazi Third Reich (Condor Legion is just one example), fascist italy (Aviazione Legionaria for instance) and Estado Novo Portugal.
Despite its neutral facade on the international sphere, francoist Spain sought cooperation and alliance with axis powers during WWII (and after the "civil war" was sadly won by the nationalists) or Germany at the very least and it did send a voluntary regiment to fight against the Soviet Union, which even today is getting officially commemorated (instead of having their monuments fucking demolished) police and military institutions, which haven't changed much since the laughable "democratic" transition.
After WWII Spain was on very good terms with U.S.A. who as with many other countries as a proxy to stop the "spread of the comunizm!" and the Soviet Union's expansion. Many military bases where built in spanish territory and apparently Nixon even toasted to Franco.
Whatever the regime's true aligment was it did share many similarities with what we convencionally could agree are characteristics of fascism (and not just stereotypes): corporatism and class collaborationist rhetoric to "restore the country's glory" to justify the former, born out of the threat to the interests of the bourgeoisie (and in this case, much more backward institutions like the church and the monarchy), virulent opposition to Leftists of all stripes, anti-intellectualism, reactionary gender roles (the church played a crucial part in Spain's society and we're still paying for it), national chauvinism and the idea of a "national" race (not to mention the obsession with Judeo-masons their version of Judeo-bolshevism) among many other things.

So just to recap, could francoist spain be anything other than fascism? What was the relationship between Falange and the goverment?
And as aside, any info on that regard about Estado Novo? Its a shame that so much of this gets swept under the rug when it should be denounced and made known.

Would post background links for those interested but I still don't have enough posts. Also missed the "or not?" in the title cause I'm a newbie and the gods of the web want to have a laugh at me.

[Markslenin]

I think the character of the spainish regime could be described as fascist just not particularly the same type of fascism seen in Germany and Italy. The francoist regime is not officially renounced because many people associated with or directly involved in the francoist state are still active in politics and likely still present within state institutions therefore a thorough reassement of the past would likely threaten the legitimacy of the present state institutions. I've heard of similar thing in Germany. I've been told German students are taught little to nothing about the nazi past which is a tragic mistake not acknowledging the past.

[Full Metal Bolshevik]

They were fascist.

And to top if off, despite the atrocities committed by the regime, they were pardoned under a 1977 amnesty law. There are people alive nowadays who tortured and murdered dissidents without having seen any justice so far.

Big mistake from Spain to let that go off so easily (the excuse was for a smooth and peaceful transition to democracy), they should've payed back for the White Terror (that vastly outnumbered the red Terror) during the Civil war, and arrest if not execute all the fascist scum. Now they gather freely as they want around Spain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPdk_3Hm1kM

[Radical Atom]

They were fascist.

And to top if off, despite the atrocities committed by the regime, they were pardoned under a 1977 amnesty law. There are people alive nowadays who tortured and murdered dissidents without having seen any justice so far.

Big mistake from Spain to let that go off so easily (the excuse was for a smooth and peaceful transition to democracy), they should've payed back for the White Terror (that vastly outnumbered the red Terror) during the Civil war, and arrest if not execute all the fascist scum. Now they gather freely as they want around Spain

Oh, trust me, it was no "mistake"; the fact that everything happened behind closed doors should start to tell you what kind of "democratic" transition it was. The political and economical elite knew it could not go on and keep its privileges, the dictatorship would not last long. They banked on the desperation for democratic rights and the spinelessness of the pro-democracy forces to secure themselves a deal that ensured a change for everything to stay the same (Seriously, the bourgie center parties I can get, but fucking shame on the likes of the PCE for their bootlicking, not that it could be expected better from euro"communists"). Ever heard of the phrase "Todo atado y bien atado"? That's why some people call today's status quo (since transition until now) "the regime of 78", to not even concede them the "democratic" label because, it should be remembered, it was orchestrated very undemocratically even by bourgie standards. It might not seem like there's criticism from the outside or even the inside since in official channels the transition and the constitution are elevated almost to sacred status. Seriously, try to even say a little criticism about the laughable constitution and you'll be branded a "violent" "totalitarian" wrecker.
I'd recommend Llorenç Soler's 1977 documentary "Votad, Votad malditos", it chronicles the first "democratic" elections in Spain through interviews with people on the streets and electoral propaganda ads of the time, it's amazing how something so simple (speaking with people in the street) talks volumes about society, the ignorance of a people subjugated for decades to the darkness of superstition and reaction, the sheer corruption of every institution and the "democratic" process... One highlight is a worker unwittingly revealing that at the factory they were given an already closed envelope.

A spanish showman that outside of his job is surprisingly left said it like it was: "We've been told that when Franco died, 40 million francoists died with him, that's a lie. There was a sociology here, there was a 40 year period of intelectual wasteland that created a certain social mass, and that's true because when Franco died there was a kilometric line (in the funeral), and had they not buried him there'd still be a line. What happened with those people, that sociology generated by the dictatorship? It's partly reeducated, but another part exists, that votes what it votes and they don't give a damn about them robbing, [...] they vote "theirs"" (in reference to the People's Party, which despite it's mysoginystic policies, contempt for the victims of the dictatorship, antidemocratic tendencies, their inhumane austerity measures and widespread corruption, people talk about banana republic levels of corruption then Spain should have its own level at top, has stayed the most voted political party).
Just to make yourself a picture, recently in Spain there's been a scandal in which a leaked conversation of the minister of interior conspiring to destroy political enemies. Which, you know... IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN WATERGATE ITSELF, since watergate was only spying. Has there been consequences? Yes but with a surreal twist, there's an investigation to find out who did the recordings! And the judges find no reason to prosecute the minister for conspiracy!! And many people where okay with this, why? Because the transition was a sham, there's been no democratic transition and the dictatorship's mentality permeates all layers of society from top to bottom.
I guess the one positive thing we can take about the Spanish case is how much we can learn from it, for one it shows not only that fascism and capitalism are very much allies, but also that fascists are capitalists, in the sense that when material conditions deem fascism no longer necessary or even a nuisance for capitalist relations, they'll easily drop the fascist label and become "democrats".
I am quite convinced myself that they were fascists, but I've seen the argument that I wanted to discuss even here in Revleft, I guess in the end the question goes back to what fascism is. It'd be interesting for the sake of historical discussion too, though, discussing what where the inner political games within the dictatorship, and what relationship had with each other the rightist forces.