Icod de los Vinos Council to Vote on Renaming Street Honoring Francoist General

The Socialist group in the Icod de los Vinos City Council is pushing to rename a street at San Marcos beach, currently named after the Francoist general García Escámez. The proposal, which will be discussed at the next council meeting, aims to bring the municipality in line with Spain’s Law on Democratic Memory, which requires local governments to remove symbols that honor the 1936 military uprising or the subsequent dictatorship.

Councilman Gerardo Rizo, who is leading the motion, argues that street names should reflect democratic values rather than figures associated with historical repression. He contrasts the military career of García Escámez—who played a key role in the uprising against the Second Republic—with the proposed new namesake, Guillermina Hernández Martín. Hernández Martín was a local midwife who served families in the area for decades, and her contributions to the community are well-documented in regional social history.

Under municipal regulations, the City Council has the authority to rename public spaces. The Socialist group views this change as a way to comply with the law while offering a form of symbolic reparation. By replacing a military commander with a woman dedicated to the health and well-being of the local community, they hope to transform the street map into a reflection of collective memory.

The proposal also highlights the historical importance of midwives like Hernández Martín, whose expertise provided essential care in rural areas long before formal healthcare infrastructure was established. Through this initiative, the Socialist group hopes to move away from ideological symbols and instead honor those who made meaningful, positive contributions to the community.