Franco: The dictator's legacy to modern Spain

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I don't think anyone's denying this

Good.

I just don't understand why Franco making a poor choice (from his point of view) of successor in any way justifies his regime.

It doesn't. It was one point on a six point list. It was just a statement of fact, though perhaps poorly worded.

Actually, to be fair I believe that those persecutions were only begun after the hostilities began and not before. Although the Republic did wish to get rid of the church even though the rural regions still wanted it.

Catholic priests in the Spanish Republic were being killed as early as 1934.