The Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory of Tenerife considers it a maneuver to avoid its removal. The City Council is appealing the state order to remove the sculpture within six months.
The Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory of the Island of Tenerife (ARMHT) has described as a "scandal" the possibility that the Franco Monument, located on Anaga Avenue in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, be included in the municipal catalog of heritage assets with some degree of protection. The entity believes that this move represents a maneuver to prevent the removal of the sculpture, after the attempt to declare it a Cultural Asset of Interest (BIC) failed and the Government of Spain ordered its removal from public space within six months.
The mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, announced that the City Council will appeal the resolution of the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory that mandates the removal of the monument. Additionally, the City Council will study, through the Municipal Urban Planning Management, the possibility of including the sculpture in the Catalog of Protection of Cultural Heritage Assets of the capital. This dual approach has been met with indignation from historical memory associations.
For the ARMHT, the heritage protection of the monument would be a "scandal" and a "mockery" of the Democratic Memory Law, which establishes the duty of public authorities to adopt measures aimed at repairing the victims of the War and the Dictatorship, as well as to prevent the exaltation of the military uprising, the Civil War, or Francoism in public spaces.
The Monument to Victory, popularly known as the Franco Monument, is a work by the sculptor Juan de Ávalos located at one of the entrances to Santa Cruz. For years it has been the subject of debate due to its connection with the Franco dictatorship and its presence in public space. The controversy revolves not only around the artistic value of the piece but also about its political and symbolic meaning. For democratic memory associations, the monument constitutes an element of exaltation of the dictatorship and an affront to the victims of Francoism and their families.
In the Canary Islands, Law 5/2018 on historical memory includes the preparation of a catalog of symbols, streets, monuments, and Francoist mentions, and states that public administrations must take measures to remove objects or commemorative mentions that exalt the military rebellion, the Civil War, or the dictatorship. The same law provides for exceptions when artistic, architectural, or artistic-religious reasons protected by law are present. The City Council of Santa Cruz has chosen to appeal the state resolution that mandates the removal of the sculpture within six months. The municipal argument is based on the fact that, although the BIC file was rejected, there could be other avenues for heritage protection, such as its inclusion in the municipal catalog.
The debate over the future of the monument has intensified in recent weeks, after the central government issued a six-month ultimatum for its removal. The Municipal Heritage Commission will have to pronounce on the protection proposal, which could clash with state and regional legislation. Meanwhile, the historical memory association has announced that it will mobilize civil society and appeal any decision that allows the sculpture to remain in public space.
The situation generates uncertainty among the residents of Santa Cruz, who see how the monument continues to be a point of political and social conflict. While the City Council defends its artistic and heritage value, memory associations remind that its presence in public thoroughfare violates historical memory laws. The next step will be the resolution of the appeal by the Government of Spain, which will decide whether the removal order is upheld or suspended.
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