The decision to return the sculpture to the same spot was made after discussions between the Paeria (City Council) and the Associació d'Amics Gaspar de Portolà, which consistently advocated for its restitution to the original location. Mayor Lorena González confirmed that the decision to reinstall the statue had been taken months ago, thereby closing the debate opened by the previous government, which had proposed a public consultation on its final placement.
“"This is the plaque that has been here all its life and it is the original one."
The sculpture retains its original plaque, written in Spanish and English, a measure González justified as "historical coherence," thus avoiding future speculation regarding the omission of Catalan. The City Council also issued a plea for "civility" and "respect" for the city's historical heritage to prevent further vandalism.
The statue was a gift from the Spanish Government to Balaguer in 1970, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of California. Gaspar de Portolà, a native of Balaguer, was the first governor of the US state, and a replica was also gifted to the city of Monterrey.
