Spain Orders Removal of Franco Monument in Tenerife

The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory has added the Franco monument in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to its catalogue of symbols opposed to democratic memory and ordered its removal within six months. Minister Ángel Víctor Torres said the sculpture, created by Juan de Ávalos in the 1960s, lacks sufficient artistic or cultural value and must be taken down and stored out of public view. The decision also includes a monument to fallen Romanians in Majadahonda and two inscriptions honoring José Antonio Primo de Rivera in the cathedrals of Murcia and Almería. Torres condemned agreements between the Popular Party and Vox that aim to preserve Francoist monuments, noting that local council opposition had previously stalled immediate removal.

The move comes amid broader concerns about the resurgence of far‑right politics in Spain. Commentators warn that parties such as Vox and the cooperation of the PP with them are normalising Francoist symbols, while the left, including PSOE and regional parties, have been accused of insufficiently confronting this trend. The debate highlights tensions over historical memory, national identity, and the role of political parties in addressing Spain’s authoritarian past.