Santiago Carrillo

During the Spanish Civil War, Carrillo was a leader of the Republican youth organization. He was accused of involvement in the Paracuellos massacres, where thousands of Nationalist prisoners were executed. The extent of his responsibility remains debated.

After the Nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War, Carrillo went into exile, living in the Soviet Union, France, and other countries. He remained the PCE's leader in exile for nearly four decades.

As Secretary-General of the PCE, Carrillo led the party's legalization and integration into Spain's democratic system. He accepted the monarchy and the democratic constitution, a key step in the transition.

Carrillo publicly endorsed Eurocommunism, a doctrine that rejected Soviet-style communism and accepted democratic pluralism. This distanced the PCE from Moscow and made it acceptable in Western Europe.

Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez legalized the PCE, with Carrillo's acceptance of the monarchy and democratic rules. This ended the party's clandestine status and allowed it to participate in elections.