The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council will assess the implications of the central government’s decision to remove the Franco monument within six months. Legal and administrative teams will examine the resolution’s ramifications, focusing on the removal costs and potential legal repercussions for the city.
The Ministry of Democratic Memory, led by Ángel Víctor Torres, has included the Monument to Victory, also known as the Ángel Monument or Franco Monument, in its catalogue of symbols contrary to democratic memory. This decision mandates the monument’s removal from public space within the specified timeframe.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has stated that municipal technicians are already evaluating the consequences of this action. He emphasised that the council will comply with existing laws, referencing both the State Law of Democratic Memory and the Canary Islands’ equivalent.
However, Bermúdez expressed concerns about decisions made by the Ministry that could leave local administrations to bear the consequences. He highlighted the need for the city council to consider who will bear the financial burden of the removal and whether any legal issues might arise. He insisted that the matter requires thorough investigation before further steps are taken, while reiterating the council’s commitment to acting within the law.
