Esteban de Bilbao Eguía
Relations with Falangism
Relations with Falangism
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[thumbnail\|left\|Falangist standard](/wiki/File:Bandera_FE_JONS.svg "Bandera FE JONS.svg")
During his 30 years of activity within the Francoist regime, Bilbao maintained a perfectly loyal stance.Lewis 2002, p. 85; some authors observe sarcastically that Bilbao was among those who "had not let their Carlism get in the way of their careers", Jeremy MacClancy, *The Decline of Carlism*, Reno 2000, , p. 93 He is credited with coining the royally\-sounding phrase "Francisco Franco, Caudillo de España por la gracia de Dios."in street\-talk mocked as "Francisco Franco, Caudillo de España por una gracia de Dios" (caudillo by the joke of God), Payne 2011, p. 235 There is no evidence that he participated in any conspiracy, opposition, or protest against Franco personally. His political efforts were primarily focused on keeping the hardline Falangists at bay, occasionally combined with a rather timid advocacy of the monarchist idea.
[thumbnail\|140px\|Basilica of Begoña](/wiki/File:BasilicadeBegona.jpg "BasilicadeBegona.jpg")
In the summer of 1940, Ramón Serrano Suñer proposed the [Ley de Organización del Estado](/wiki/Ley_de_Organizaci%C3%B3n_del_Estado_%28draft_Falangist_law%29 "Ley de Organización del Estado (draft Falangist law)"), a draft aimed at giving Falange a central role in the totalitarian new structure. This plan elicited a letter of protest from Bilbao, who denounced the "systematic interjection of the party" into state organs. The dissent was shared by most monarchists and parts of the army, leading to the shelving of the project and an evolution of the Francoist system along more hybrid lines.Payne 2011, p. 260

Discontent between the Falange diehards and the monarchists prompted Bilbao to resign as a minister in early August 1942\. However, he changed his mind after receiving a flattering letter from Franco.Paul Preston, *Franco. A biography*, London 2011, , p. 466 Shortly thereafter, the [Begoña incident](/wiki/Bego%C3%B1a_incident_%281942%29 "Begoña incident (1942)") led to a showdown between the Carlists and the Falangists, with [General Varela](/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Enrique_Varela "José Enrique Varela") demanding that Falange be brought into line and the process of monarchy restoration begin.he demanded legal action against perpetrators, their expulsion from FET, and creation of a government "of authority to rectify the errors of the past" – a veiled demand of a monarchist cabinet, Preston 2011, p. 467 Bilbao supported Varela, but Franco outmaneuvered the dissidents, convincing them to comply.Preston 2011, p. 468; Lewis 2002, p. 88 presents a slightly different view claiming that Bilbao was satisfied with the government changes, as they loosened the Falangist grip on power This standoff eventually led to the sidelining of Serrano and a de\-emphasis of Falangism.Preston 2011, pp. 469 and onwards

The last major confrontation between syndicalist hardliners and monarchists occurred in late 1956\. Bilbao compared [Arrese's](/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_de_Arrese "José Luis de Arrese") draft of the [Leyes Fundamentales](/wiki/Leyes_Fundamentales_%28Falangist_draft_law%29 "Leyes Fundamentales (Falangist draft law)") to "Soviet totalitarianism" and led a coalition of monarchists, the Catholic hierarchy, and the military against the project.Preston 2011, p. 662 The confrontation resulted in a cabinet reshuffle, the sidelining of Arrese, and a shift in power to the technocrats.

Due to his age, Bilbao became a somewhat decorative figure starting in the late 1950s. In 1965, he resigned from all political functions, citing his declining years.*Entrevista a Esteban Bilbao*, \[in:] *Esfuerzo común* 102 (1969\) As a private retiree, he could afford more frankness, and as late as 1969, he publicly expressed a barely veiled lack of enthusiasm for the perceived Falangist domination in the Cortes, both during his presidency and afterward.*Entrevista a Esteban Bilbao*, \[in:] *Esfuerzo común* 102 (1969\)


Was there a significant shift in power from Falangists to technocrats after the confrontation in 1956?