Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead

[Stevicus]

But just to make sure, they're thinking about digging him up and reburying him somewhere else: Why Franco's tomb is a headache for Spain

Someone painted a red dove on Franco's tomb.

Where will Franco be moved to?
The government wants to find a more low-key burial place where the dictator's followers would find it harder to pay tribute.

But Franco's family (who would rather he wasn't moved at all), say he should lie in a family crypt in the Almudena Cathedral - right in the centre of Madrid.

Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo quashed that suggestion on Monday, telling reporters the solution "obviously can't be the Almudena".

"Franco's remains can't be placed in any place where they could be glorified," she said, adding that the government "has mechanisms" to block the move.

As the cathedral is a Catholic church, the Vatican has also weighed in - backing the government's search for an alternative location.

One possibility is the El Prado cemetery near Madrid, where Franco's wife is buried.

Also: Topless Femen activists disrupt rally of Franco fans in Madrid

Police said nearly 200 Franco supporters had gathered in the Plaza de Oriente where he addressed the throngs during his 1939-75 military dictatorship.

Many bore flags, umbrellas and ties with the colours of the Franco-era Falangist party.

Three women interrupted the rally, their torsos daubed with the words "legal fascism" and "national shame", before being arrested by police.

 

[YmirGF]

I guess this falls under the banner heading of "Careful which strong man you decide to support!"

 

[GoodbyeDave]

And what sort of state does that make Spain, if the government can desecrate a grave? The US states may remove statues of Confederate leaders, but can you imagine people digging up Davis or Lee?

 

[Estro Felino]

And what sort of state does that make Spain, if the government can desecrate a grave? The US states may remove statues of Confederate leaders, but can you imagine people digging up Davis or Lee?

I dare not imagine what she would say, if they decided to desecrate her grandfather's grave...which is considered a "fascists' temple"
she's a very violent woman,..a hitter

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And what sort of state does that make Spain, if the government can desecrate a grave?

It makes it a state that cares about who it honours.

The US states may remove statues of Confederate leaders, but can you imagine people digging up Davis or Lee?

The graves of Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee are both on private property, so that would be a very different thing. With Franco, we're talking about a monument erected and still owned by the Spanish government.

Edit: but if Hollywood Cemetery (where Davis is buried) or Washington and Lee University (where Lee is buried) decided to rid themselves of their monuments to these figures of the Confederacy, that would be fine with me.

 

[Stevicus]

The latest news from Spain: Franco is still dead.

Why Spain is digging up a dictator

But the final chapter in this long saga is approaching. The government says Franco's remains will be exhumed on Thursday and moved to a cemetery in Madrid.

Last August, despite objections from his family and the right-wing People's and Citizens parties, the government approved the exhumation. It wanted to find a more low-key burial place where the dictator's followers would find it harder to pay tribute.

But Franco's family (who would rather he wasn't moved at all) said he should lie in a family crypt in the Almudena Cathedral - right in the centre of Madrid.

...

The government argued that the former dictator should not be placed anywhere he could be glorified.

It also said there were potential security issues with the cathedral site. As it is a Catholic church, the Vatican also weighed in and backed the government's search for an alternative location.

Then, last month, an appeal by Franco's family against the exhumation was thrown out by the Supreme Court. It unanimously backed the government's plan to move his remains.

Franco will be reburied at El Pardo-Mingorrubio cemetery. The exhumation is set to start at 10:30 (08:30 GMT) on Thursday.