Spain’s Cieza Faces Backlash Over Tribute to Former Franco-Era Mayor
Cieza, Spain – A planned tribute to Antonio Pérez Gómez, the first mayor of Cieza under the Franco regime, has sparked controversy and accusations of violating Spain’s Democratic Memory Law. The tribute, scheduled for Saturday, involves the unveiling of a bronze bust at the Museo de Siyâsa.
The Asociación para la Memoria Histórica (Association for Historical Memory) in the Region of Murcia has denounced the event, arguing it contravenes Article 35 of the 2022 Democratic Memory Law. The law prohibits the public display of symbols and tributes to figures associated with the Franco dictatorship.
According to the association, Pérez Gómez “directly participated in the brutal repression of many residents of Cieza,” who suffered torture, imprisonment, and even death for defending legality and belonging to legal unions and parties or holding public office during the Republic. His time in office, from March 1939 to May 1940, coincided with a period of intense repression in the town, the association stated.
The planned tribute comes as Spain continues to grapple with its Francoist past. The Democratic Memory Law, passed in 2022, aims to address the legacy of the dictatorship and promote reconciliation. However, the law has faced opposition from conservative groups who argue it is divisive.
The event is not solely focused on the controversial political figure. The Ayuntamiento de Cieza (Cieza Town Hall), alongside Ediciones Orígenes, is also hosting a presentation of the book ‘336 cartas del bibliófilo Antonio Pérez Gómez al bibliófilo Antonio Rodríguez-Moñino’ (336 letters from bibliophile Antonio Pérez Gómez to bibliophile Antonio Rodríguez-Moñino), by Juan Antonio López Delgado.
The Association for Historical Memory suggests the tribute is part of a broader effort to “whitewash Francoism,” pointing to the political motivations of parties like Vox, who openly embrace the Francoist legacy, and the People’s Party (PP), whose historical ties to the regime are less openly acknowledged.
The debate surrounding the tribute highlights the ongoing tensions in Spanish society regarding the interpretation of its history and the appropriate way to remember the Franco era.
A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) by @laprotestaes echoed the association’s concerns, stating the bust’s placement “violates the Law of Democratic Memory and is a humiliation for…” [the full tweet was not provided in the source material].