Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Catalonia’s proposed memory law sets a one-year deadline to remove Tortosa monument
Five Catalan parties have agreed on a democratic memory law after nearly two years of work and more than 750 proposed amendments.
The law is expected to go to a vote in Catalonia’s parliament next week, though it has not yet been approved.
If it takes effect, the Catalan government would have one year to remove the Franco-era monument in Tortosa.
The law would also give the government two years to remove other Franco-era symbols from public spaces, and would introduce fines of up to 150,000 euros for praising Francoism or damaging memorial sites.
A new independent technical commission would investigate human rights violations during the 1936–39 war and Franco’s dictatorship, and produce a report within two years.
The law would bring together three existing laws and cover the period from the start of the Second Republic to Catalonia’s first democratic parliamentary election in 1980.
A possible legal review could delay the vote’s effect, as the People’s Party can refer the law to Catalonia’s statutory guarantees body.
Catalonia’s proposed democratic memory law would give the regional government up to one year after the law takes effect to remove the Franco-era monument in Tortosa.
The draft would allow two years to remove other Franco-era symbols from public spaces.
Five parties have agreed on the final text after nearly two years of negotiations and more than 750 amendments.
The law is expected to go to a parliamentary plenary session next week, but its approval could be delayed.
It would also introduce fines for praising Francoism and damaging memorial sites, and establish a technical commission to investigate human rights violations.
- Who
- The Catalan government would be responsible for removing the Tortosa monument; five parties agreed on the proposed law.
- What
- The proposed law sets a maximum one-year deadline after it takes effect to remove the Franco-era monument in Tortosa.
- When
- The draft is expected to reach a plenary session next week. The one-year deadline would start when the law takes effect.
- Where
- Tortosa, Catalonia.
- Why
- The law aims to address democratic memory, including the removal of Franco-era symbols and recognition of victims.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Catalan government presented a bill that revived an earlier proposal.
The bill passed the debate on the entirety of the proposal.
The agreed text is due to be approved in committee.
The bill is expected to go to the parliamentary plenary session.
- Tortosa monument deadline
- Up to one year after the law takes effect
- Other Franco-era symbols
- Up to two years after the law takes effect
- Parties agreeing on text
- PSC, Junts, Esquerra Republicana, Comuns and CUP
- Proposed fines
- €200 to €150,000
- Amendments registered
- More than 750
Sources
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