Socialists Advocate for a “Francoist Symbol-Free” Island, Emphasising the Clear Mandate of the Democratic Memory Law
The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has welcomed the rejection of the motion proposed by the Popular Party to reinstate the cross and stone spheres of the Francoist monument located in Plaza de Las Palmas, adjacent to the Church of San Ginés in Arrecife. The motion was voted down with the opposition from the PSOE and abstentions from Coalición Canaria and Óscar Noda.
The PSOE believes that the initiative put forward by the Popular Party is a clear attempt to whitewash symbols linked to Francoism by trying to present what is inherently part of a monument dedicated to those “fallen for God and Spain” as a “neutral” element. This phrase has historically been used to glorify the victors of the Civil War.
“There is no possible reinterpretation or valid excuses: the cross that was removed was part of a Francoist monument and has no place in a full democracy,” stated the spokesperson for the Socialist Group, Ariagona González.
“What the Popular Party aimed for was not an act of respect or heritage preservation, but a blatant regression in democratic progress. Lanzarote has taken a firm step by rejecting this motion,” she added.
The Socialist spokesperson also questioned the reluctance of Coalición Canaria, accusing them of “preferring to look the other way and not committing to defending democratic values or the memory of those persecuted by the dictatorship.”
The PSOE of Lanzarote insists that democratic memory is not a matter of settling scores, but rather an act of justice and reparation for the victims of Francoism. They reiterate that institutions are obliged to ensure that public spaces are free from symbols representing a glorification of totalitarianism.
