Franco est Mort.

[Guanche]

39 years ago Franco passed into history. I think one of the most successful dictators there has ever been. I only bring this subject up because I was surprised to read in a news paper yesterday there will be a service of remembrance in Santa Cruz today. We were sat having coffee with the 'Old Gits' and I knew if I brought this to their attention to get clarification of what I could read, it would cause the obligatory 'Bottles of pop' to start exploding round the table and all I wanted was a quite cup of coffee

So I quietly put the paper on my chair and sat on it. I am sure they read about it later on in the day.

[Perikles]

I think one of the most successful dictators there has ever been.

How do you judge the success of a dictator? Number of political rivals murdered? Or amount of repression and torture by their police force?

[Guanche]

I see what you mean P. He was successful because he managed to stay in power for so long. I do not mean to imply he was good while he was in power. I would say the same about Joe Stalin. He successfully stayed in power by being a mass murderer. His actions dwarfed the Nazi atrocities.  His success in staying in control was only matched by his cruelty, But he was successful at what he did and that was staying in power, just like Franco.

[Janet]

I think like all dictators, they can be considered successful or failures from a range of points of view. Salazar in Portugal was another one. Very long lasting, and some think the reforms were intelligent and the leadership essential (just as could be said about Franco), whereas others see him as the archetypal tyrant (again, just as could be said about Franco) ... !!

[Guanche]

I think like all dictators, they can be considered successful or failures from a range of points of view. Salazar in Portugal was another one. Very long lasting, and some think the reforms were intelligent and the leadership essential (just as could be said about Franco), whereas others see him as the archetypal tyrant (again, just as could be said about Franco) ... !!

And those divisions are still alive and kicking today. That why I didn't say anything round the coffee table!