Spain has received a surge of citizenship applications from descendants of emigrants who fled the country's 1930s civil war and Francisco Franco's dictatorship under a scheme aimed at addressing historical injustices.

The so-called "grandchildren's law" allows children and grandchildren of Spaniards who lost or renounced their nationality after leaving for "political, ideological or belief-related reasons" to reclaim citizenship.

The measure also covers those who fled persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The initiative is part of a 2022 law introduced by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez aimed at righting the wrongs of the 1936-1939 civil war and the brutal dictatorship that followed until General Franco's death in 1975.

Spain has received 2.3 million citize

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