This November 20, the date on which the execution of the Falangist leader is commemorated Antonio Primo de Rivera and the death of Francisco FrancoIt is not like all the previous ones. With the Democratic Memory Law already in force, the prohibition of glorifying the dictatorship and the humiliation of the victims is a reality. Despite this, different far-right groups will occupy the streets of Madrid to pay tribute to their leaders, even with the permission of the Government Delegation. They will also do the same in various churches, as usual. The memorial movement, for its part, will visit the basilica of Valle de Cuelgamuros, the place from which Franco’s corpse was expelled in 2019 and from which Primo de Rivera is expected to soon do so.
This Sunday the main calls will be held by the defenders of the Franco dictatorship after the approval of the aforementioned law. The Plaza de Oriente, as usual, will host the main act of this important day. Summoned by the Spanish Catholic Movementwill protest against the Democratic Memory Law in an act in which, historically, it has served to extol the figure of the dictator and the totalitarian regime that he imposed.
The fines for exaltation
The approval of the regulations, unlike the previous Historical Memory Lawit does come with a sanctions regime. The “calls for acts, dissemination or publicity campaigns that incite personal or collective exaltation, of the military uprising, of war or of the dictatorship, of its leaders, participants in the repressive system or of the organizations that supported the regime dictatorial, in which there is discredit, contempt or humiliation” towards the victims of Francoism are considered very serious offensespunished with sanctions of between 10,000 and 150,000 euros.
asked Fernando Martinezthe Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, why this 20-N will not be the same as in previous years, he answers that “the Law of Democratic Memory establishes assumptions of fact to which are tied legal consequences. To the extent that these provisions have been in force since last October 21, the main difference of this 20N with those of previous years lies in that”.
The Falangists began their appointment this Saturday with a mass and a “political act” called by The Falange and Spanish Falange of the JONS. Then they carried out their usual torchlight pilgrimage to the Cuelgamuros Valley.
On the Falange’s Twitter profile, the organization has called for the “collaboration in the good development” of public activities. In this way, they warn their followers that they will not be allowed to carry their own flags or banners, only those distributed by the organization itself; they also call to support the slogans and chants that are launched over the public address system and avoid improvisation, and ask not to respond to insults or provocations “Invite the media to always address the members of the organization” and “maintain order and respect the instructions of those responsible for security” are the last two requests that the Falange makes to its acolytes.
Finish with the Francoist Valley
Miguel Angel Mugapresident of the Forum for the Memory of the Community of Madrid, requests the deconsecration of the Valley of Cuelgamuros: “We want the Benedictines to leave, a fascist group whose function is to protect the memory of the dictator, and that all means be provided so that the republicans illegally buried there they are handed over to their families, all of this with a judicial process, even if it is not contemplated by law,” he develops. Thus, he says, perhaps that place will stop being the mecca of Francoism.
The Forum for Memory will also go to the Valley on November 20. “Let’s hope this is the last year of pilgrimage by the Falange because we understand that Primo de Rivera will soon leave”, in his own terms. Martínez, the Secretary of State, adds that “as contemplated in article 55 of the Democratic Memory Law, the Valley of Cuelgamuros is a place of democratic memory whose redefinition will be intended to make known, through research and dissemination plans and mechanisms, the circumstances of its construction, the historical period in which it is inserted and its meaning, in order to strengthen constitutional and democratic values“.
Muga, as such an important appointment approaches, does not forget to demand the modification of some aspects “that maintain the Spanish model of impunity”, such as thethe annulment of the Amnesty Law of 1977 and the simple annulment of the sentences, without material restitution to the families. “We understand that all these acts and masses that usually take place on 20N end with exaltation of the dictatorship, the coup and the coup plottersand if they do it the same as other years, they will have to penalize them,” adds the president of the Madrid group.
Emilio Silva, president of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory (ARMH), criticizes the “passivity of the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory before what will be acts of exaltation of Franco and Primo de Rivera”, he says, referring to the calls of the far-right groups.
Passivity of the Administration
He doesn’t forget the Obituary published a few days ago in the abc in memory of Franco, an obvious apology for the dictatorship by saying that he had died in the service of the country, paraphrasing Silva’s words. “We have seen how the Madrid Government Delegation has authorized the Falange march to the Valley in honor of Primo de Rivera and theThe Queipo family insulted another relative of a victim of Francoism in the midst of cheers for a genocide, and nothing happened either,” adds the president of the ARMH, remarking that there is a lack of political will to face this reality.
From your point of view, This November 20 will be quite similar to the previous ones. “This would not happen if someone organized a march in memory of a terrorist who died in jail, because it would have consequences, but it can be done for Primo de Rivera,” adds Silva, who has an impact on the UN reports that ask Spain that the victims of all forms of violence be treated in a similar way. “The State must be hurt by all the pains and all glorifications contrary to democracy“says the activist.
Primo de Rivera follows the same path as Queipo
On November 3, just a few days after the approval promoted by the Minister bolanos, the remains of the Francoist general Gonzalo Queipo de Llano left the basilica of La Macarena in Seville. At dawn, a van took his remains in a context of premeditated nightlife. Some twenty of Queipo’s relatives stationed themselves there, who applauded slightly when the vehicle left the temple behind. In front of these people Paqui Maquedapresident of the Memoria Nuestra memorial association, willing to say out loud some of the names of those people who died at the hands of the Francoist generalnot without receiving an insult for it.
Rivera’s cousin seems to be going the same way. For years, his body was located near Franco’s, until the latter was taken to the Mingorrubio cemetery. still remains in the Valley of the Fallen, although for a short time. The falangist family has requested the abbot and the General Directorate of Public Health of the Health Department of the Community of Madrid exhume the remains. In this case, the exhumation will be carried out in a similar way to that of queipowithin the strict family intimacy, “without it being able to become a public exhibition prone to confrontations of any kind between Spaniards“The family added in a statement.
Said text also affirmed that “José Antonio will continue to maintain the pre-eminent place that corresponds to him in the memory of many Spaniards and he will not be able to be subjected to further humiliation.” As he already anticipated Publicthis will be the fourth transfer that has occurred since the death of the fascist leader in November 1936. “His new burial would be the fifth of his so-called eternal rest,” adds the family text.
