When Generalissimo Francisco Franco unveiled plans two years ago for Spain's first direct elections in three decades, he did not exactly open up the floodgates of democracy. For one thing, the popular elections were limited to 108 seats, a mere 19% of the Cortes, Spain's Parliament. The rest of the seats in the Cortes continued to be filled by Franco appointees or loyal organizations. Moreover, the campaign rules favored past members of the Cortes, forbade political parties or public fund raising, and required candidates to take a loyalty oath. Leaders of the real op position soon dismissed the...
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