Yesterday, the plenary assembly of the Tenerife Cabildo sanctioned the delegation of the decision concerning the future of the monument referred to as Franco, situated in the capital, to the Santa Cruz City Council, upon the completion of the file initiated for its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).
The plenary session endorsed the motion put forward by the insular Government factions (CC and PP), receiving their votes, along with the backing of Vox and the rejection from the PSOE. It was agreed that, “in accordance with the court’s resolution, upon initiating the relevant administrative procedure for BIC declaration, the organisation, instruction, and completion of the same shall continue,” in line with legal standards. Furthermore, “once the file is finalised, the Santa Cruz City Council must implement the necessary measures within the framework of the Democratic Memory Law, whether it pertains to removal, elimination, conservation, or resignification of the aforementioned sculpture,” as stipulated in the approved document.
This marks a regression from the statement made by the island government at the onset of October, when they declared intentions to advocate for a motion in plenary to designate it as a Monument for Concord and to alter its significance to promote a message of respect and peace, in light of the ruling that mandates the Cabildo to commence the BIC file. This announcement met with several criticisms, with Santa Cruz’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, reminding them that the monument “is municipal property, therefore the City Council possesses the exclusive authority to alter its name or resignify it.”
In response to the agreement approved yesterday by the island’s plenary, which assigns the decision about its future to Santa Cruz, the nationalist mayor stated, “obviously, this aligns with our longstanding position.” “To determine the future of that monument and comply with the Historical Memory Law, it is crucial that the Cabildo initiate and complete the BIC file, whether to bestow that title or not. This currently dictates any city council actions. The sooner the Council finalises this file, the sooner we will act to either remove or keep it resignified,” he remarked.
During the discussion on the motion, CC spokesperson, José Miguel Ruano, asserted that the Cabildo has been “compelled” by a ruling to commence this BIC initiation file. Regarding the proposal for renaming, he expressed that it is “related to the free and democratic position articulated by the president and the first vice president concerning the potential outcomes from the inquiry into the file.” In a similar vein, PP spokesperson Lope Afonso noted that “absolutely nothing has been predetermined; there is not a single administrative resolution, merely political opinions.”
From Vox, spokesperson Ana Salazar opposed the resignation and preferred to retain the name assigned by the creator of the work, Monument for the Peace of Tenerife. Meanwhile, PSOE spokesperson Pedro Martín remarked that the motion presented yesterday by CC and PP “emanates from an error, stemming from a longing for prominence.” “They proclaimed something beyond their own abilities and now they seek to cloak it with a motion that lacks substance,” he concluded.
€96 million
On a different note, the plenary assembly also approved a budget amendment exceeding €96 million, endorsed by CC and PP, alongside the abstention of Vox and the rejection by PSOE, which incorporates a credit operation of €70 million to be added to the 2025 budget. Among the projects to be financed is an allocation of €7.2 million for Titsa for land acquisition across the Island and €2 million aimed at upgrading the escalators at the Santa Cruz Interchange.
Additionally, it includes the distribution of €5.6 million in grants to municipalities to aid in connection to the sewage system within these areas, along with €2 million to mitigate losses in drinking water supply systems in localities with populations under 10,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, €3.8 million is set aside within the Ciatf for various hydraulic infrastructure projects.
Moreover, €8.5 million has been allocated for Roads, while €1 million is assigned for the construction of officially protected housing. Another €4.4 million is designated for an agreement with Icavi in this regard, and in Sports, €3.2 million is appropriated for the renovation of the Cidemat. The plenary session also granted approval for the proposals to bestow the Gold Medal of the Island of Tenerife upon Carla Antonelli and Gonzalo Díaz.
