Santander aprueba cambios en nombres de calles franquistas
The Santander City Council Plenary approved on Thursday, with votes in favor from the PP, abstentions from the PSOE, PRC, and the Mixed Group-IU, and rejection from Vox, the changes of names of the Francoist streets in the city affected by the Democratic Memory Law, in order to comply with the one-month deadline given by the Prosecutor’s Office for this modification.
All groups –PP, PSOE, PRC, and IU–, except Vox, who voted against, joined forces to revoke the titles and distinctions awarded by the City Council to Francisco Franco and Luis Carrero Blanco, as well as any other agreements that may have been contrary to the Democratic Memory Law.
However, Mayor Gema Igual (PP) pointed out that «this may not end here» since, once these changes are approved, objections can be presented, as has happened in Madrid.
She stated that the more administrative procedures have been completed at this stage, although the public implementation is still pending.
The mayor assured that the process was carried out with «transparency» and «participation,» while expressing that «this law (the Democratic Memory Law) at the very least divides citizens» and «makes them uncomfortable.»
On the other hand, the Councilor for Culture, Noemí Méndez, recalled that the agreement for the name changes of the streets is based on the proposal issued by the General Directorate of Culture of the City Council in May 2022, following the criteria set by the History Commission of the Municipal Culture Council.
She stated that the new names «have sought references, personalities from culture, science, regional history, with the aim of enriching public space while respecting democratic legality.»
Regarding the revoked titles, she explained that the plenary agreements of August 21, 1946, July 3, 1968, and March 7, 1974, as well as the titles of Honorary Mayor, the Gold Medal and the Key to the City to Francisco Franco, and the Gold Medal to Luis Carrero Blanco, are nullified, along with other agreements contrary to the Democratic Memory Law.
Specifically, the street changes are: Alto de los Leones to Benito Madariaga; Alféreces Provisionales to Fray Silvestre Vélez de Escalante; Belchite to José Luis Casado Soto; Brunete to Carmen and Joaquín González Echegaray; Capitán Cortés to Miguel Ángel García Guinea; Carlos Haya to Antonio de Tova y Arredondo; García Morato to Juan Antonio Gutiérrez de la Concha; General Díaz de Villegas to José de Bustamante y Guerra; General Moscardó to Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco; Montejurra to Valentín Lavín Casalís; Ruiz de Alda to Juan de Santander; Sargentos Provisionales to Leonor Plantagenet; Zancajo Osorio to Leonor de la Vega; Camilo Alonso Vega to José Hierro; and General Dávila to Paseo de Altamira.
### Unilateral Decision Without Participation
However, the opposition criticized that the decision of the new names was carried out unilaterally, without participation and without any willingness to reach an agreement.
The socialists pointed out that the street names come from a proposal by former Councilor of Culture, Javier Ceruti (Citizens), dating back to 2022 and now «recovered by the mayor from a hidden drawer.»
### «Destroying Heritage»
From Vox, whose councilor Ángel Mariaga could not vote on the name changes due to a family relationship, both proposals were rejected.
For the spokesperson, Laura Velasco, changing the street names is «destroying our heritage,» inherited over history, which public officials have a duty to protect.
Velasco clarified that she does not oppose the new proposed names but advocates for keeping the existing street names as part of her group’s commitment to national reconciliation, without grudges or revenge, aiming to build a better future.
«The Second Republic was the bloodiest and cruelest regime in Spanish history, but no one talks about it,» the councilor claimed, criticizing the PSOE for reopening wounds, fueling divisions, the good versus evil narrative.
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FUENTE
