Summary of "España: en qué consiste la ley de Memoria Democrática aprobada recientemente • FRANCE 24"

Spanish Law of Democratic Memory

The new Spanish Law of Democratic Memory officially condemns the 1936 military coup and nearly 40 years of Francoist dictatorship. It expands and replaces the 2007 Law of Historical Memory.

Key Provisions

Expanded Definition of Victims The law broadens the definition of victims to include anyone who suffered:
- Physical, moral, or psychological harm
- Property damage
- Violations of rights due to Francoism It also establishes a register and census of these victims.
Illegality of Francoist Courts Francoist courts and their sentences are declared illegal.
Efforts to Locate Missing Persons The state is mandated to lead efforts to locate approximately 114,000 missing persons from that era, including the creation of a National DNA Bank.
Access to Historical Documents The law guarantees free access to documents from the Franco regime.
Investigation of Human Rights Abuses A commission will be set up to investigate potential human rights abuses during Spain’s transition to democracy (1978-1983).
Memorialization and Symbol Removal
- The Francoist mausoleum at the Valley of the Fallen will be renamed.
- Sites related to victims will be transformed into memorial centers.
- All Francoist symbols will be removed.
Educational Curriculum Changes The history of repression will be included in the educational curriculum, with an emphasis on the role of women. Recognition and reparations will be provided to mothers, partners, and relatives of victims.

Historical Context

Francisco Franco’s 1936 coup against the democratic republican government triggered a civil war resulting in over 500,000 deaths. This led to a fascist dictatorship marked by severe repression until Franco’s death in 1975.

Presenters/Contributors: Not specified.