Podemos Canarias Issues Ultimatum Over Franco Monument Removal
Podemos Canarias has demanded the Santa Cruz de Tenerife municipal government, led by Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular, to start removing the Franco monument immediately. This follows a directive from the Spanish government mandating its removal within six months. Should the council continue to delay compliance with the Law of Democratic Memory, Podemos plans to expand a previous complaint made to the prosecutor’s office, alleging misconduct.
The party insists that the recent government resolution vindicates their claims that attempts to declare the monument a Cultural Heritage Site were merely tactics to obstruct its removal. After theCouncil of Cultural Heritage of the Canaries rejected this designation, Podemos believes the council has run out of justifications for keeping the Francoist symbol in public view.
Noemí Santana, the Canarian coordinator for Podemos and a congressional representative, stated, “Six months ago, we alerted the prosecutor that the council was using every tool available to ignore the law. Today, we have been proven right. The excuse regarding cultural heritage has collapsed, and there is no reason to delay the monument’s removal. If CC and PP continue to disobey the Law of Democratic Memory, we will extend our complaint with all relevant facts from now until then.”
The party also warned that continued non-compliance could lead to significant costs for Santa Cruz residents, as the Law of Democratic Memory includes penalties for administrative bodies that fail to meet their obligations. The Spanish government has made it clear that if the council does not act within the specified time frame, it will handle the removal itself and charge the cost back to the municipality.
Fernando Ruiz, Podemos Canarias’ communications secretary, emphasised, “If CC and PP prioritise the defence of a Francoist monument over the law, it will be the taxpayers of Santa Cruz who ultimately bear the cost. This includes possible penalties and the avoidable costs of removal.”
Ruiz expressed concern over potential justifications for exorbitant expenses related to the monument’s conservation after its removal, saying, “We will not allow the protection of a Francoist symbol to waste public funds. The priority is to remove it promptly and comply with the law without further delays.”
For Podemos Canarias, this government resolution signals the end of the obstruction strategy they reported six months ago. “The time for excuses is over. It’s time to abide by the law,” concluded the party.
