The Swiss TV News and the Francoist Violence (1969–1975)

Abstract

The last years of the Franco regime faced an increase of social and political conflicts. The dictatorship answered with exceptional ruthlessness to the claims of the Spanish working class. The declaration of the state of exception in early 1969, the military trial of Burgos in December 1970, the executions in 1974 and 1975 show this dramatic development. While scholars have mainly studied the perception of Francoism and the Spanish transition in the press, electronic media (cinema, radio, and TV) have largely been neglected, with some exceptions. Of particular interest is the analysis of those foreign media settled in countries whose relation with the Spanish regime was particularly strong. Under this perspective, the Swiss TV news might provide an outstanding example. While the Swiss Confederation maintained very good relations with Spain (immigration, trade and investments) and masses of Swiss tourists spent their holidays in Spain, the TV newsreel began in the late 1960s to report the repressive policies in the caudillo’s country. This paper purposes to analyze the treatment of Spanish news by the Swiss TV newsreel considering different repressive events between 1969 and 1975.