Podemos Canarias Accuses Santa Cruz Council of Misconduct Over Franco Monument

Podemos Canarias has filed a complaint against the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, accusing it of misconduct. The party claims the council is illegally keeping symbols of the Franco dictatorship in public spaces, which goes against Spain's Democratic Memory Law.

The complaint was announced on Friday, December 26, at a press conference held in front of the "Monument to Franco" on Anaga Avenue in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Noemí Santana, Salvador Moreno, and María del Cristo González were present.

This monument, also known as the "Monument to Victory," was erected in 1966 to commemorate the 1936 coup and to praise the Franco dictatorship.

Podemos Canarias argues that the monument's continued presence violates current national laws and is a result of the city council's delaying tactics. The party points out that the council tried to have the monument declared a "Cultural Asset," using private reports that, according to Podemos, contradict findings from public bodies like the Canary Islands Government's Vice-Ministry of Culture and the University of La Laguna.

The complaint suggests the council committed misconduct by failing to remove a symbol that glorifies Franco, even after receiving official warnings.

Noemí Santana stated her belief that the City Council is "protecting a remnant of Francoism for political reasons." She reaffirmed the party's commitment to democratic memory and to the victims of the dictatorship.

Podemos Canarias believes this inaction is part of a wider pattern seen in various local governments run by conservative parties. Salvador Moreno noted that during the previous "Pact of the Flowers" government, efforts were made to list Francoist symbols and comply with the law, but he stated that this political will is now absent.

The party is also considering further legal action against the Canary Islands Government for potentially neglecting its duties.

María del Cristo González highlighted that removing these symbols is possible when there is political will, citing other towns in the Canary Islands where it has already happened.

While the City Council has suggested giving the monument a new meaning, Podemos Canarias insists that obeying the law and removing symbols that glorify Franco from public spaces must be the priority.