A Spanish Town Erases Its Mayors From The Dictatorship

In a move that blends history, authorities and a touch of symbolism, a Spanish Town Hall has fixed its assemblage of erstwhile mayors a long-overdue makeover — and a fewer faces person softly vanished from nan wall.

Like astir Spanish municipalities, Denia keeps a assemblage honouring those who person erstwhile held nan mayor’s baton — a proud section tradition, usually displayed successful nan plenary hall. But here, nan portraits bent successful nan Sala de Juntas (Council Chamber), and aft a caller refurbishment, 5 of nan 13 portraits person been taken down. Those removed? The mayors who governed betwixt 1940 and 1979 — nan Franco era.

The alteration brings nan municipality into statement pinch Spain’s Democratic Memory Law, which bans immoderate nationalist tributes to figures linked to nan dictatorship. From now on, only nan mayors who person served since Spain’s modulation to populist will stay successful nan gallery.

Still, Denia hasn’t simply erased nan past. On a recently installed sheet other nan portraits, nan names of each erstwhile mayors — including those from nan Republics and moreover early 20th-century leaders — person been engraved, ensuring nan town’s afloat history remains visible, if much discreetly.

125 years of leadership, 62 mayors and 2 women

The caller show offers a panoramic position of Denia’s section activity from 1900 to coming — 60 men and conscionable 2 women. Those two, fittingly, are nan latest additions to nan gallery: Paqui Viciano (PSPV) and Ana Kringe (PP). Until Viciano’s astonishment predetermination triumph successful 2003, Denia had ne'er had a female mayor.

The database starts pinch Augusto Gómez Porta, who took agency successful 1900, and runs done dozens of names until José Sastre, nan past Franco-era mayor. A peculiarly poignant item stands out: Vicente Grimalt Serrano, a statement politician deposed successful 1939, was nan grandfather of Denia’s existent mayor, Vicent Grimalt.

The caller sheet besides features images of nan different versions of Denia’s charismatic overgarment of arms done nan years — a mini ocular travel done nan town’s identity.

Who’s disconnected nan wall?

Among those whose portraits person been removed are Manuel Muñoz Cardona, José Sanchís Berruti, Wenceslao de Moya Eismar, Antonio Muñoz Cardona, Pascual Martí Costa, and José Sastre — nan series of mayors who governed during nan dictatorship. Their names now look connected nan commemorative panel, without photos.

Remaining connected nan wall are those from nan antiauthoritarian period: Joaquín Chornet (UCD), Jaume Sendra (PSPV), José Crespo (Gent de Dénia), Sebastià Garcia (UPV), Pedro Pastor (Gent de Dénia), Miguel Ferrer (PP), Paqui Viciano (PSPV), and Ana Kringe (PP).

Looking ahead: nan adjacent portraits already known

For nan first clip successful Denia’s antiauthoritarian history, nan municipality already knows who nan adjacent 2 mayors successful nan assemblage will be. Current politician Vicent Grimalt (PSPV) will measurement down adjacent year, and Rafa Carrió (Compromís) will return complete for nan remainder of nan word — portion of a power-sharing pact betwixt nan 2 parties.

It’s a historical first for Denia: ne'er earlier person 2 parties agreed to stock nan mayoralty. Traditionally, whoever began nan word arsenic politician stayed successful agency passim — though Denia’s lively governmental past, pinch its no-confidence motions successful 1997 and 2008, shows that thing present is ever rather group successful stone.

In nan end, Denia’s updated assemblage doesn’t erase history — it reframes it, blending respect for antiauthoritarian values pinch a motion to nan town’s colourful past.