Munich Congress 1962: Demands for Democracy in Franco's Spain

Manifesto of the Congress of Munich (1962)

Summary of the 1962 Munich Congress Manifesto

This document was presented at the conference held in Munich in 1962, involving members representing all shades of opposition to the Franco regime. The fundamental idea of the text is the establishment of a democratic system in Spain. The Manifesto required the following essential policy changes:

• Genuinely representative institutions elected by the citizens.
• Respect for Human Rights and fundamental freedoms.
• Freedom of association and the right to strike.
• Creation of political parties and different schools of thought.

Key Vocabulary and Concepts

Congress of the European Movement

This meeting, held in Munich in 1962, was convened by the European Movement (a platform created in 1948 to promote the unification of Europe). It was attended by members of the moderate opposition to the Franco regime, alongside a sector of Spanish exiles. Participants discussed the political conditions Spain needed to meet to enter the European Common Market.

Integration, Membership, and Association

These terms refer to Spain's potential entry into the European Community, primarily concerning economic interests. Integration, in the form of membership, represents the immediate inclusion of a country into the European Community, granting it the same rights and obligations as existing Member States. Association is usually a preliminary step.

Spain had applied for association a few months prior to the Congress, but the application was rejected due to the dictatorial nature of the regime. Following this rejection, Franco subsequently implemented liberalization measures in an attempt to secure entry.

European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter

These are European instruments created to establish civil rights and fundamental human freedoms. They allow for the judicial review of compliance with these individual rights. The fundamental rights established include:

• Housing, health, and education.
• Employment and free movement of persons.
• Non-discrimination.

Genuinely Representative and Democratic Institutions

These are institutions required to be established through universal suffrage, forming a purely democratic system. They primarily concern the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial), as well as local authorities (municipalities).

Trade Union Freedoms (Liberties Union)

This proposal advocated for the possibility of forming trade unions independent of political power, allowing them to partner together to defend workers' interests. Achieving this freedom of association would necessitate the elimination of the existing vertical unions (Sindicato Vertical).