Spanish government denies access to report used to dissolve Franco foundation

The Spanish government has denied requests for access to a report used to seek the judicial dissolution of the Francisco Franco National Foundation (FNFF). The Ministry of Culture, led by Ernest Urtasun, is using the document to pursue the foundation's extinction through the courts, alleging that the entity engages in “apology for Francoism” and “humiliates victims,” which violates the Democratic Memory Law and foundation legislation.

The Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, which authored the report, rejected the transparency request by classifying the document as having an “internal character.” The report was submitted to the Ministry of Culture in May 2025 and subsequently formed part of the legal file sent to the judiciary in April 2026. The legal process, which began in 2024 via the Protectorate of Foundations, aims to have the State Attorney request the formal closure of the FNFF.