The city of Mataró is embroiled in controversy following the events of the recent Good Friday General Procession. During the departure of several floats from the Basilica of Santa Maria de Mataró, the Spanish anthem was played on three occasions, a fact that had only occurred once the previous year.
This repetition has triggered a wave of reactions in the local political sphere. The Junts party has demanded immediate explanations from the municipal government, formed by PSC and Comuns, arguing that a publicly supported event should not become a space for confrontation. For its part, ERC has expressed concern about the frequency of the musical piece and has warned that the procession could be losing its religious and community character, calling for accountability from the local executive for the lack of supervision.
The interpretation responds to a tradition linked to Andalusian processions and they assure that it has no political connotation.
In contrast, the Holy Week Commission has defended the anthem's interpretation, explaining that it is a tradition rooted in Andalusian processions and, according to them, holds no political connotation. The organization has emphasized that the selection of the musical repertoire is the responsibility of the participating brotherhoods and bands, and not the Mataró City Council. Likewise, they have lamented the politicization of an event that, they insist, is exclusively linked to faith.
