Miquel Roca, now 85 years old, was born in Bordeaux, France, while his parents were forced to hide from the Franco regime. His youth was marked by the fight against dictatorship: by the age of twenty, he was actively opposing the regime, and was later expelled from the university along with a group of talented professors.
Later, Roca became one of the founders of Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya and was among the authors of the Spanish Constitution. From 1977 onward, he spent almost twenty years representing Catalonia’s interests in the national parliament.
Transition to Democracy: Fears and Hopes
Reflecting on the events of the late 1970s, Roca notes that with the realization that the dictatorship was ending came not only joy, but also anxiety. The opposition understood that the future of the country would rest on their shoulders. During this period, the legalization of the Communist Party and the adoption of the Political Reform Act were pivotal. According to Roca, this was when revolutionary slogans gave way to complex negotiations and compromises.
Roca stresses that the changes were not instantaneous. Many feared that the old regime would try to cling to power, but it eventually became clear: the dictatorship had run its course, and there was no continuity left within the system. Public gestures such as the inauguration of King Juan Carlos in the presence of European leaders became a symbol of this new chapter.
A Forgotten Lesson: Why the Dictatorship Isn’t Talked About
Roca is particularly troubled by the fact that the period of Francoism is hardly studied in Spanish schools. In his view, this is a serious mistake: the younger generation often does not realize what the country has been through, and sometimes even downplays the significance of those events. He believes that the freedom Spaniards enjoy today allows them to criticize the past, but without understanding history, it is easy to lose its gains.
Roca is convinced that only an honest discussion about the past can help avoid repeating mistakes. He urges people not to forget that democracy in Spain is the result of a complex and painful process, involving thousands who were willing to take risks for change.
European context and symbols of change
Support from European countries played a key role in Spain’s transition to democracy. The presence of foreign leaders at major ceremonies signaled that Spain was returning to the European community. The legalization of opposition parties and the openness of the new authorities sent a clear message to society: change was irreversible.
Today, decades later, Roca continues to insist that without a deep understanding of the past, it is impossible to build a stable future. In his opinion, Spain is only beginning to learn how to talk about the most challenging chapters of its history.
