The remains of dictator Franco were moved out of the "Valley of the Martyrs" in Spain, and public opinion was polarized

22 of Franco's relatives traveled to the "Valley of the Martyrs" to participate in the removal of the coffin. IC diagram

On October 24, Spain held a funeral ceremony for the late dictator Francisco Franco, moving his remains from the Valley of the Fallen near the capital Madrid to a "low-key" cemetery.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 24th, this "long-awaited" move fulfilled an important promise of the Spanish leftist government, that is, Spain should not continue to praise the fascists who ruled the country for nearly four decades.

According to the political news website Politico reported on the 24th, 22 relatives of Franco went to the "Valley of Martyrs" to participate in the removal of the coffin. According to reports, media access was tightly controlled, and in order to prevent drones from taking photos of Franco's remains, a tent was placed above the grave to cover up.

According to the BBC, Franco's army won the Spanish Civil War in 1930, overthrowing the democratically elected leftist government at the time, thus establishing a dictatorship. Franco declared himself head of state and held state power until his death in 1975. Spain transitioned to democracy after his death, establishing a constitutional monarchy. After Franco's death, the "Valley of the Martyrs" became a pilgrimage site for the far right in Spain, and Franco supporters often gathered in the "Valley of the Martyrs" on his death day to commemorate Franco.

The relocation of franco cemeteries has been a topic of heated debate for decades. The BBC reported that in a poll launched this month by the Spanish newspaper Le Monde, 43 per cent supported the relocation of the Franco cemetery and another 32.5 per cent opposed it.

Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez Sanchez reportedly said in a televised address on Oct. 24 that the relocation of franco's cemetery was "a step towards reconciliation." Sanchez added: "Modern Spain stems from forgiveness, but it must not degenerate into forgetfulness. ”

Also on the 24th, about 100 Franco supporters gathered outside the new cemetery to protest the government's removal of Franco from the "Valley of Martyrs". Franco Franco y Martinez-Bordiu, Franco's grandson, said he was angry at the government's move, saying it used despicable tactics to win elections.

According to Reuters reported on the 24th, Albert Rivera, the leader of Spain's center-right political party Civic Party, said: "Sixty-five percent of Spaniards ... Did not live under Franco's rule, nor suffered under Franco's rule... I believe that the bones of a dictator who died 44 years ago should not be a priority for the government. Sanchez will no longer talk about Franco's bones, which is the only light in the darkness. Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Voice Party (VOX), claims that figures from both the left and the right should be respected.

After Franco's death in 1975, his body was reportedly buried in the "Valley of Martyrs". The "Valley of the Martyrs", a monumental cemetery built by Franco in the mountains north of the capital Madrid, has been controversial. Some critics believe that the Valley of Martyrs is a celebration of the legacy of "cruel tyrants."

According to the Global Times, which previously quoted Spain's "Confidential Newspaper", in February this year, the Spanish government proposed to excavate and relocate Franco's tomb, which was opposed by Franco's descendants. They appealed, hoping to keep Franco resting in the Valley of the Martyrs and, if necessary, to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena in Madrid. Because "all those buried in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amudena are well-known figures", this request was rejected by the Supreme Court judges.