Spain exhumed the body of Francisco Franco from a grandiose state mausoleum on Thursday, reburying it in more discreet grave in a country still conflicted over the dictator's decades-long regime.

Franco is buried inside a grandiose basilica at the Valley of Fallen, which also holds the remains of 33,000 dead from both sides of the civil war
Franco is buried inside a grandiose basilica at the Valley of Fallen, which also holds the remains of 33,000 dead from both sides of the civil war AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO
Franco himself planned the monument and had it built -- in part by the forced labour of some 20,000 political prisoners -- but many Spaniards are repulsed by it and the government has vowed to remove his remains
Franco himself planned the monument and had it built -- in part by the forced labour of some 20,000 political prisoners -- but many Spaniards are repulsed by it and the government has vowed to remove his remains AFP / -

The carefully-choreographed operation which began inside an imposing basilica in the Valley of the Fallen and ended some four hours later at a state cemetery outside of Madrid, was hailed by the government as ending "an insult to Spanish democracy".

Since Franco was buried in this tomb, flowers have been laid on it daily
Since Franco was buried in this tomb, flowers have been laid on it daily AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO

"This decision puts an end to the moral outrage of the glorification of a dictator in a public space," said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Franco is to be reburied next to his wife in the Mingorrubio cemetery at El Pardo, north of Madrid
Franco is to be reburied next to his wife in the Mingorrubio cemetery at El Pardo, north of Madrid AFP / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won a bloody 1936-39 civil war with strong backing from German counterpart Adolf Hitler
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won a bloody 1936-39 civil war with strong backing from German counterpart Adolf Hitler AFP / -

"It takes us one step closer to reconciliation... and gives prestige to our democracy, not only in our own eyes but in the eyes of the world."

The Valley of the Fallen monument is one of Europe's largest mass graves
The Valley of the Fallen monument is one of Europe's largest mass graves POOL / Emilio Naranjo

The delicate procedure drew a line under a sombre drama which had threatened to open barely-healed wounds in a nation still divided over Franco's legacy 44 years after his death.

Demonstrators held a banner reading "Franco lives" during the exhumation
Demonstrators held a banner reading "Franco lives" during the exhumation AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO

The diminutive dictator ruled Spain with an iron fist following the end of the 1936-39 civil war and when he died in 1975, his body was laid in a tomb inside the vast basilica at Valley of the Fallen, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Madrid.

Eight family members carry the coffin of the late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco out of the basilica at the Valley of the Fallen ahead of its transfer to a more discreet burial site
Eight family members carry the coffin of the late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco out of the basilica at the Valley of the Fallen ahead of its transfer to a more discreet burial site POOL / Juan Carlos Hidalgo

It was there that 22 of his relatives went on Thursday morning to witness the opening of the grave which has drawn both tourists and right-wing sympathisers.

Outside the site where Franco's body will be reburied, supporters gathered, some holding red and black Falange flags, others wearing pre-constitutional Spanish flags, shouting "Long live Franco"
Outside the site where Franco's body will be reburied, supporters gathered, some holding red and black Falange flags, others wearing pre-constitutional Spanish flags, shouting "Long live Franco" AFP / CURTO DE LA TORRE
The body will be flown by helicopter to another burial site some 50 km (30 miles) away
The body will be flown by helicopter to another burial site some 50 km (30 miles) away POOL / Mariscal

After removing the heavy flagstone, which reportedly weighed 1,500 kilogrammes (1.5 tonnes), the dilapidated casket was secured before being extracted and carried out into the light by eight family members.

Franco's grandson, Jaime Martinez Bordiu, carries a wreath with a ribbon saying "Your family" as he arrives for the exhumation
Franco's grandson, Jaime Martinez Bordiu, carries a wreath with a ribbon saying "Your family" as he arrives for the exhumation POOL / Juan Carlos Hidalgo

It was then transferred to a military helicopter for the brief flight to El Pardo where Franco was reburied alongside his wife in Mingorrubio state cemetery.

The diminutive dictator had the monument built to celebrate his "glorious crusade" against the "godless" Republicans
The diminutive dictator had the monument built to celebrate his "glorious crusade" against the "godless" Republicans AFP / -

Also buried there is Rafael Trujillo, the dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic until his assassination in 1961.

Stickers and posters in support of the late dictator, one of which reads: "Thank you Franco for saving Spain from communism"
Stickers and posters in support of the late dictator, one of which reads: "Thank you Franco for saving Spain from communism" AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO

Chasing 'Franco's mummy' votes

Gathered outside the cemetery, around 200 supporters, some draped in older Franco-era Spanish flags, others holding Falange banners, shouted "Long live Franco!"

Wrapped in a cloth, Franco's dilapidated coffin was carried out of the basilica by eight family members
Wrapped in a cloth, Franco's dilapidated coffin was carried out of the basilica by eight family members POOL / Juan Carlos Hidalgo
The Valley of the Fallen, the monumental mausoleum where the embalmed body of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was exhumed October 24.
The Valley of the Fallen, the monumental mausoleum where the embalmed body of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was exhumed October 24. AFP /

"Franco will never die. For me, today is about loyalty. I had to come to thank him for everything he has done for us," said Miguel Maria Martinez, a pensioner from the Basque Country.

AFPTV / Rebeca Mayorga

"We are living in difficult times but if he had been with us, the Catalan issue simply wouldn't have existed," said Jose Ramon Gimenez, a 39-year-old delivery man referring to the separatist crisis in northeastern Spain.

There were joyful scenes in Madrid after Franco's remains were moved
There were joyful scenes in Madrid after Franco's remains were moved AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO

Under Franco, Catalan language and culture was severely repressed.

In Madrid dozens of relatives of victims of the Franco-era came out on to the streets to display their joy at the decision to move Franco from his grand resting place.

"It's a big step, ten years ago that would have been impossible," 64-year-old Lopez Pena told AFP.

"The real transition starts now," added Gallardo Leon, 63, a reference to the period of "democratic transition" which followed the death of the dictator.

Since Sanchez came to power in June 2018, he has made moving Franco's remains a priority, although the plans were delayed by legal challenges raised by the family.

But with the operation taking place before a November 10 election, his rivals have cried foul, with Pablo Iglesias of the radical leftwing Podemos saying Sanchez had unearthed "Franco's mummy" to win votes.

Spaniards are divided over the exhumation, with 43 percent in favour, 32.5 percent against and the rest undecided, according to an El Mundo poll published earlier this month.

'Glorious crusade'

Ordered by Franco in 1940 to celebrate his "glorious (Catholic) crusade" against the "godless" Republicans, the Valley of the Fallen monument was constructed over almost 20 years.

Partly built by the forced labour of political prisoners, the site is one of Europe's largest mass graves, housing the remains of over 30,000 dead from both sides of a civil war that was triggered by Franco's rebellion against an elected Republican government.

Most had fought for Franco but the monument also contains the bones of many Republican opponents who were moved there from across the country without their families being informed.

In 2017, the parliament approved a non-binding motion calling for Franco's remains to be removed from the Valley of the Fallen, but it was ignored by the then conservative government of Mariano Rajoy.

"The Valley of the Fallen, in due time, will be a place of memory, of honour for those who are there," she said.

"There are many things to do but the fundamental goal of removing the dictator from where his victims lay was very important."