Spain Orders Removal of Franco-Era Monument in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Spain’s Directorate General for the Promotion of Democratic Memory has ordered the removal of the "Monument to the Victory" in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The government ruled that the sculpture, created by Juan de Ávalos, violates the Democratic Memory Law because it glorifies the 1936 coup d'état and the subsequent Franco dictatorship.

This decision follows a binding report issued on June 23, 2026, which rejected arguments from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council. Local officials, backed by the Royal Canary Academy of Fine Arts and the CICOP Foundation, had argued that the monument should remain due to its artistic and architectural merit. However, the Ministry maintained that the sculpture’s artistic quality does not outweigh its original purpose as a piece of political propaganda, ruling out any attempt to "re-signify" the work.

The removal will proceed once the current temporary protection under the Canary Islands Cultural Heritage Law expires, following a decision not to grant the site "Asset of Cultural Interest" status. Once that period ends, the city council will have six months to move the monument to a secure facility, where it must be kept in storage rather than displayed to the public. Failure to comply could result in penalties under state law.

This move is part of a wider government effort to remove symbols of the dictatorship from public spaces. Minister Ángel Víctor Torres confirmed that the Ministry is also targeting other sites, including the Monument to the Fallen in Majadahonda and various inscriptions in the cathedrals of Murcia and Almería. These actions, alongside ongoing projects in Cáceres and Palma, are intended to ensure that public spaces reflect constitutional values of justice and reparation.

The city council has one month to appeal the decision to the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory. With this resolution, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to using the Democratic Memory Law to ensure that symbols of the former regime no longer influence modern democratic life.