Alt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès OrientalAlt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès Oriental
CA|ES|EN
Diari de Catalunya logo

Diari de Catalunya

Injunctions Lifted: Tortosa Can Now Remove Francoist Monument

The Tarragona court gives the green light for the dismantling of the monolith after rejecting far-right entity appeals.

Generic image of a monument base with scaffolding and construction barriers.
IA

Generic image of a monument base with scaffolding and construction barriers.

The contentious-administrative court number 2 of Tarragona has lifted the precautionary measures preventing the removal of the Francoist monument located in the middle of the Ebro river in Tortosa, a key step towards its dismantling.

The judicial decision represents a significant advance in unblocking the monolith's dismantling. The mayor of Tortosa, Mar Lleixà, has welcomed the resolution, expressing confidence in being able to remove the structure as soon as possible. "It is a matter of dignity, reparation, and democratic hygiene," Lleixà stated.
The lifting of the precautionary measures comes after the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) dismissed appeals filed by far-right entities against the monument's de-cataloging. Subsequently, the Supreme Court also did not admit the appeals for review.
Additionally, the appeal against the tender and award of the removal works, filed by an entity seeking to reinterpret and preserve the monument, has been resolved. The proceedings were archived due to the subsequent loss of object, as the contract with the awarded company was terminated early.
Awaiting a ruling on the validity of the building permit, which led to the precautionary suspension, is still pending. The court in Tarragona considers that the monument's heritage de-protection or the litigation over the awarded company do not affect the validity of this permit.
Both the Department of Justice and the City Council of Tortosa anticipate a swift resolution. The mayor emphasized that the building permit, granted in February 2021, was correctly issued.
Lleixà has urged the Government to be prepared to resume the works once a ruling is issued. Although the works will need to be re-tendered and a new municipal permit requested, it is not ruled out that the future democratic memory law of Catalonia could expedite the process. The removal could potentially occur next July, although timelines remain uncertain.
The mayor reiterated that the monument's removal is a "commitment to democratic memory" and a matter of "reparation and democratic hygiene," aiming to dignify the memory of the victims of the Civil War and Francoism.

Related News