The president and vice president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila and Lope Afonso respectively, are set to advocate for a proposal in the upcoming Plenary Session aimed at renaming the Monument to the Angel of Victory, created by Juan de Ávalos—commonly referred to as the Franco Monument—as the Monument for Concord.
This initiative arises from a court ruling mandating the Cabildo of Tenerife to commence the Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) file for the aforementioned work, situated on Anaga Avenue in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Both officials assert that while the insular Corporation respects the judicial ruling, it is crucial to transform the name and significance of the monument without delay, aligning it with the democratic values and principles of coexistence advocated by the institution and supported by current historical memory legislation.
The ruling mandating the Cabildo to initiate this process originated from an appeal lodged by the Association for the Investigation and Protection of the Historical Heritage of San Miguel Arcángel, which emphasised the artistic and distinctive value of Ávalos’ work within the Canary Islands.
According to the court’s decision, the sculpture must be preserved not only for its significance as an artwork, but also as a singular representation of the artist’s oeuvre in the Islands.
As stated by the president, “the Cabildo is staunchly committed to defending freedom and democracy, and it would be inconceivable to maintain historical elements that do not reflect present-day democratic values, as stipulated in the Historical Memory Law.”
He further noted that it is essential “to redefine the monument so that it serves as a symbol of unity, concord, and future strength for the entire society of Tenerife, rather than prolonging the glorification of the triumph of a dictator who epitomised the bleakest periods of our recent history.”
Lope Afonso added that “our hope is for this work to be perceived not as an exaltation of divisive figures, but rather as a space of remembrance that fosters peace and understanding among citizens.” He believes that “this measure represents both an adherence to the court’s directive to safeguard the work, as well as a significant opportunity to align it with contemporary democratic principles and promote a message of reconciliation and peace for the people of Tenerife.”
Both officials have emphasised that the motion to be presented will serve as the institutional expression of the judicial ruling that necessitates the protection of the monument due to its potential artistic significance, as recognised by various expert reports. They will urge the committee of experts tasked with assessing whether the work possesses values warranting protection, to also reposition and contextualise it with a new significance that does not evoke the darkest chapters of Spain’s history.
In this regard, Dávila and Afonso have reiterated their commitment to supporting this proposal before the Plenary to advance the name change and initiate the process to effectuate its transformation into a Monument for Concord.
The monument has been a subject of contention since its construction in 1966. “In light of the ruling that compels the Cabildo to undertake the necessary procedures to safeguard the monument with the Canary Islands Government, we advocate for it to become a place for reflection and harmony,” both leaders assert.
The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, believes that “there are no compromises when it comes to adhering to the Democratic Memory Law of the Canary Islands. In rejecting the symbols of dictatorship, which still persist in our streets, squares, and public spaces over 40 years later, neutrality is not an option.”
He further stated that public bodies “have a duty to be resolute in eliminating any symbols or messages that undermine individual freedoms, especially in light of extremist political factions that assert their connections to the Franco regime.”
In this context, he reaffirmed that La Laguna “will continue to advocate for the values of concord and solidarity” and has the support of the University in compiling a catalogue of Francoist relics to ensure full compliance with the Democratic Memory Law, promising that “the City Council will spearhead this initiative.”
