A significant number of Spanish conservatives view the Franco era positively, poll finds

A significant portion of conservative and right-wing voters in Spain view the Franco dictatorship positively.

According to a new poll conducted by Target Point for El Debate, 43% of voters for the conservative People’s Party (PP) view the Francisco Franco era positively.

Among supporters of the right-wing VOX party, 55% say the Franco era was good or very good for Spain, while in a separate question, 43% state they have a positive view of Franco’s personal image.

The poll reveals a clear political divide. While most PP voters view the era positively or neutrally, the vast majority of supporters for the left-wing PSOE, Sumar, and Podemos parties view it negatively.

Voters who consider the era bad or very bad include 83% of PSOE supporters, 83% of Sumar supporters, and 99% of Podemos supporters.

On a national level, 51.5% of voters consider the era bad for Spain, while 22% view it as good, with the youngest and oldest participants reporting the strongest opinions.

Forty-two percent of young people in the 18-29 age group—the demographic with the strongest negative sentiment, followed by the 30-39 age group—and 38% of those over 70 see the era as very bad. Conversely, nearly two in ten young people believe the Franco era was good or very good, while almost three in ten of the elderly share this view.

Regarding Franco’s personal image, about one-fifth of Spaniards describe it as “normal,” while more than 15% hold a positive opinion.

The poll was conducted as part of a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death and Spain’s political transition.