Militärprozesse und Hinrichtungen des späten Franco-Regimes im Spiegel Schweizer Medien (1970–1975)

Abstract

As a constitutive pillar of modern society mass media permit us to explore a political discourse and to identify key players. This article deals with the perception by Swiss newspapers and television news of three court-martials and executions in the late Franco regime. The Burgos trial in 1970, the trial against anarchist Puig Antich in 1974 and finally the trials that led to the last executions in Spain in 1975 were dramatic episodes that provoked different reactions among Swiss media according to their respective ideological orientation, although newspapers had at the time lost much of their original political orientation. The last executions especially sparked a public dispute, as the federal government decided to call back its ambassador from Spain. Liberal and right wing media condemned this step as an unprecedented procedure and a violation of Swiss neutrality, while leftists advocated a boycott of Spain. The Swiss television news showed an attitude close to the left wing media.