In January 1938 Rodezno entered the first regular Francoist government as Minister of Justice . At this position he commenced work on revoking the Republican laws , focusing mostly on the laic legislation . Though the task was completed by his successor , it was Rodezno who ensured that the Church re-took a key role in a number of areas , especially education , and that intimate Church-state relations were restored . When setting the direction he had to overcome the Falangist resistance and outmaneuver its key exponents , Jordana and Yanguas . He is best remembered , however , for his role in Francoist repressions . Wartime purges rested on most tortured juridical basis and produced some 72,000 executions ; it is difficult to tell to what extent Rodezno might be held liable , especially that most of them were carried out under military jurisdiction and before he assumed office . He started to replace the chaotic practice by laying the foundations of the repressive Francoist judicial system . Its first pillar , Ley de Responsabilidades Políticas , retroactive to 1934 , was adopted in 1939 , supplemented by many other laws and regulations . There were some 100,000 political prisoners before he stepped down as minister in August 1939
Francoist repressions
White Terror (Spain)
Tomás Domínguez Arévalo