The Spanish government’s General Directorate for Democratic Memory has decided to include the Monument to the Victory in Santa Cruz de Tenerife—also known as the Angel Monument or Franco Monument—in its catalogue of symbols that oppose democratic memory. The resolution mandates its removal from public space.
The decision concludes that the monument contradicts democratic values and lacks the artistic or architectural significance needed to justify its continued presence. This finding is based on a binding report issued on 23 June 2026 by the Technical Commission on symbols opposed to democratic memory.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, which owns the monument, is required to remove it voluntarily within six months. However, this timeframe only begins once the current provisional protection under the Canary Islands Cultural Heritage Law is lifted.
The resolution states that the monument was created to glorify Francisco Franco. It was promoted during a time of official propaganda and represents a personal tribute and military triumph tied to Francoism, rather than serving as a neutral remembrance of victims.
The Technical Commission notes that the monument’s iconography is “unequivocal,” and there have been no substantial efforts to reframe its meaning in a democratic context.
The City Council submitted technical and artistic reports from institutions arguing for its artistic value. While the Commission acknowledges that the monument has artistic merit, it maintains that these attributes are not enough to justify its presence due to its propagandistic intent.
The resolution also includes information about a separate regional process to designate the monument as a Cultural Asset of Interest, initiated in September 2024 but has been rejected by the Canary Islands Cultural Heritage Council.
Memoria Democrática’s resolution confirms the monument’s inclusion in the state catalogue and mandates its removal, stating that its custody must occur in a public facility, without allowing for public display.
Failure to comply will trigger procedures under Article 37 of the Democratic Memory Law, and the resolution remains open to administrative appeals within a month of notification.
The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory has also added new historical remnants to the catalogue that it deems expressions of glorification of the 1936 military uprising, the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship, and their links to other totalitarian regimes.
Other notable inclusions are the Monument to the Fallen Romanians in Majadahonda, and inscriptions honoring José Antonio Primo de Rivera found in the cathedrals of Murcia and Almería.
Minister Ángel Víctor Torres defended the initiative as a “democratic act of dignity,” ensuring future generations do not inherit public spaces associated with the glorification of hate and dictatorship. He also noted ongoing studies of additional remnants and mentioned ongoing procedures regarding the Cross of the Fallen in Cáceres and the Monument to the Victims of the Baleares Cruiser in Palma.
These measures align with the provisions of the Democratic Memory Law, aimed at ensuring public spaces reflect constitutional values and uphold principles of truth, justice, and non-recurrence.
