Funeral. Supporters raise their fists in salute as the coffin
passes by. EFE Looking back at the life of Santiago Carrillo is
like summing up 20th century Spanish history. The former
Communist party leader played a vital role in the Civil War, the
fight against the dictatorship and in the transition to
democracy. His 97 eventful years came to a peaceful end on
Tuesday while he was having his afternoon nap. Carrillo’s health
had been delicate for several months and his family reported
that he had been very tired. What does seem to be clear is that
it wasn’t smoking that killed him, despite being rarely ever
seen without a cigarette in his hand. Politicians of all ranks
and colours reacted to the news of Carrillo’s death full of
praise for the important role he played in Spain’s most
important moments of the last century. King Juan Carlos and
Queen Sofía were among the many who travelled to the family home
to pay their respects to Carrillo’s widow and three children.
Santiago Carrillo was one of the four men wh