Minister Responds to Santa Cruz Mayor Over Franco Monument Controversy
Angel Víctor Torres, the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, has hit back at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez. The Mayor had accused Torres of engaging in “poor politics” regarding the announcement to remove the Franco Monument.
During a recent radio interview, Bermúdez stated that he had met with Torres a week before the announcement, claiming the minister had said nothing about the monument, which he felt reflected a lack of institutional respect. In response, Torres expressed surprise at the Mayor’s comments, insisting that he had maintained communication throughout the process.
After meeting with the Tenerife Historical Memory Association, Torres dismissed any suggestion of partisan motives. He pointed out that both the Spanish and Canary Island governments’ technical reports conclude that the monument lacks artistic or architectural value and cannot be designated as a Cultural Heritage Site.
Torres warned that if the local council does not remove the monument within the specified timeframe, the central government will step in, resulting in costs for the city council. However, he remains confident that the council will act within the six-month deadline following its categorisation by the Ministry.
He questioned the rationale behind keeping such a monument in public view, given its lack of artistic merit, stating, “Any democrat would want it removed.”
