AHC: Generalísimo Francisco Franco succeeded by Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco

[Dan1988]

Your challenge, should you accept it, is to have Francisco Franco not select Juan Carlos as Prince of Spain in 1969 (which will be the year of the POD). This will leave the path more or less clear for Carrero Blanco to succeed Franco, when the latter dies as per OTL, as the new "Regent" and "Caudillo de España, Por la Gracia de Dios" and thus continue the Francoist régime. In order for this to work, you would need to ensure that Carrero Blanco would have to survive all the assassination attempts he had, including avoiding the 1973 assassination by ETA (so no more World High Jump Record Holder jokes ). Bonus points if he survives to 1993/1994 (take your pick of which year) and dies in his 80s. Double bonus points if you can describe what Spain would be like under Carrero Blanco, as well as an idea of how a delayed *Transition after Carrero Blanco's death would look like. Triple bonus points if Spain gets a nuclear bomb by the time Carrero Blanco succeeds him (or at least very close to completion).

 

[Herzen's love-child]

Damn. Had a great Blanco joke, too....


There is some good stuff on your POD here:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=171491

 

[Dan1988]

Some interesting stuff there. Merci très beaucoup, Herzen.

Des autres? ¿Y otros?

 

[Archibald]

I assume full and entire responsability for the older thread lame joke (do I say, running for cover)

 

[Dan1988]

I assume full and entire responsability for the older thread lame joke (do I say, running for cover)

That's OK, all's forgiven.

Any other takers beyond what was already mentioned to elaborate on Carrero Blanco as per the OP?

 

[arrowiv]

Well, Franco dies as per OTL and Admiral Carrero Blanco takes over as caudillo instead of Juan Carlos. But.... there will still be the "General Franco is STILL dead" jokes on SNL.

 

[Dan1988]

Particularly if the policies were more or less a continuation of Franco's.

 

[Nanwe]

Your challenge, should you accept it, is to have Francisco Franco not select Juan Carlos as Prince of Spain in 1969 (which will be the year of the POD). This will leave the path more or less clear for Carrero Blanco to succeed Franco, when the latter dies as per OTL, as the new "Regent" and "Caudillo de España, Por la Gracia de Dios" and thus continue the Francoist régime. In order for this to work, you would need to ensure that Carrero Blanco would have to survive all the assassination attempts he had, including avoiding the 1973 assassination by ETA (so no more World High Jump Record Holder jokes ). Bonus points if he survives to 1993/1994 (take your pick of which year) and dies in his 80s. Double bonus points if you can describe what Spain would be like under Carrero Blanco, as well as an idea of how a delayed *Transition after Carrero Blanco's death would look like. Triple bonus points if Spain gets a nuclear bomb by the time Carrero Blanco succeeds him (or at least very close to completion).

Actually not really. If JCI is not selected as Franco¡s successor, there was a very clear alternative and much more popular in El Pardo. Furthermore, it is extremely likley that Carrero would resign his position as head of state since he was very monarchist and indeed the one that pulled the strings to fully convince Franco to amend the Leyes Fundamentales in 1969 to name JC as his heir in the post of chief of the state. Not only that, but had he not died, it's likely (since he said so and he was not the kind of person to lie) he'd have put his post of President of the Government to the disposition of the King (ie. resigned), the moment JCI was crowned.

You'd need a Carrero Blanco, that simply put, is not himself. Basically the only people who wanted the continuation of a regency or a Francoist presidential republic were the hard liners between the (true, not the bureaucratic) falangist family.

Now, if what you want is to make the Transition more difficult, I can propose two PoD: Alejandro Rodríguez de Varcarcel doesn't have cancer (a) and Franco dies a week later than OTL (say that Nenuca feels less compassionate on the night of the 19th or Marquis of Villaverde wins her over). This way you have a healthy Valcarcel who would we re-elected as President of the Courts and of the Council of the Realm. Basically, that way you've created a deadlocked situation in which the King would have much smaller influence in the process of anything, since it's no secret that Arias Navarro ignored him and without Fernández Miranda to manipulate the important institutions that Valcarcel presides, you could get a very, very different situation of Francoist continuity with some aesthetic adjustments for some time.

 

[St. Just]

Who is "El Pardo", if you don't mind me asking?

 

[ramones1986]

Who is "El Pardo", if you don't mind me asking?

The palace of General Franco

 

[Dan1988]

Actually not really. If JCI is not selected as Franco¡s successor, there was a very clear alternative and much more popular in El Pardo.

And who would that be? Just curious, that's all.

Furthermore, it is extremely likley that Carrero would resign his position as head of state since he was very monarchist and indeed the one that pulled the strings to fully convince Franco to amend the Leyes Fundamentales in 1969 to name JC as his heir in the post of chief of the state. Not only that, but had he not died, it's likely (since he said so and he was not the kind of person to lie) he'd have put his post of President of the Government to the disposition of the King (ie. resigned), the moment JCI was crowned.

Hmm, that makes sense. So how else would Carrero Blanco exercise influence? Remain as Prime Minister?

You'd need a Carrero Blanco, that simply put, is not himself. Basically the only people who wanted the continuation of a regency or a Francoist presidential republic were the hard liners between the (true, not the bureaucratic) falangist family.

Hmm, that is interesting, to say the least.

Now, if what you want is to make the Transition more difficult, I can propose two PoD: Alejandro Rodríguez de Varcarcel doesn't have cancer (a) and Franco dies a week later than OTL (say that Nenuca feels less compassionate on the night of the 19th or Marquis of Villaverde wins her over). This way you have a healthy Valcarcel who would we re-elected as President of the Courts and of the Council of the Realm. Basically, that way you've created a deadlocked situation in which the King would have much smaller influence in the process of anything, since it's no secret that Arias Navarro ignored him and without Fernández Miranda to manipulate the important institutions that Valcarcel presides, you could get a very, very different situation of Francoist continuity with some aesthetic adjustments for some time.

Hmm - if you don't mind, at some point today I'll have to PM you regarding these ideas. They sound fascinating.

 

[Nanwe]

The palace of General Franco

Well, I was referring more to his family and entourage, what in less modern terms is a court. But yeah, also the palace where they lived.

And who would that be? Just curious, that's all.

Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, husband of Franco's granddaughter.

Hmm, that makes sense. So how else would Carrero Blanco exercise influence? Remain as Prime Minister?

Prime Minister = President of the Government. As I said, it's likely he'd resign he moment the King was crowned, at least that's what he said (actually do think that was his intention). But Carrero had a large influence and gravitas, especially among the Opus factions, but also in other families, so if he ends up not liking the reformism of any posterior government, he could make things difficult. But, in any case, he was 71 in '73, which means that he will maybe live another decade at best.

Hmm - if you don't mind, at some point today I'll have to PM you regarding these ideas. They sound fascinating.

Sure!

 

[Dan1988]

Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, husband of Franco's granddaughter.

Now that is interesting. Very interesting.

Prime Minister = President of the Government.

I know.

As I said, it's likely he'd resign he moment the King was crowned, at least that's what he said (actually do think that was his intention). But Carrero had a large influence and gravitas, especially among the Opus factions, but also in other families, so if he ends up not liking the reformism of any posterior government, he could make things difficult. But, in any case, he was 71 in '73, which means that he will maybe live another decade at best.

That is interesting. That explains how Opus Dei got involved with the economy, most likely. It would also be interesting if he serves under Alfonso and/or Rodríguez de Valcárcel.

Sure!

Did you get my PM?