World

Spain’s lawmakers vote to dig up remains of former dictator Franco

Spain is now one step closer to removing Francisco Franco from a mausoleum that also holds some of his victims. The hope is that this will bring some closure to a country still reckoning with its past

Francisco Franco Bahamonde (December 4, 1892-November 30,1975), Spanish general and former military dictator of Spain
Francisco Franco Bahamonde (December 4, 1892-November 30,1975), Spanish general and former military dictator of Spain

Spain's parliament on Thursday voted in favor of removing the remains of fascist dictator Francisco Franco from a mausoleum near Madrid where tens of thousands of victims of the civil war that ended in his victory are also laid to rest.

With 176 votes for, 165 abstentions and only two against, the motion was carried by the ruling socialists, leftist Podemos and a number of smaller regional parties.

The longstanding debate over Franco's remains has deeply divided Spain. A senior Podemos leader has described the tomb, which is overseen by a Benedictine monastery, as the "the last standing monument to fascist dictatorship in Europe."

However, Franco's descendants have begged the monks not to let the remains be moved, saying those who wanted to disturb the resting place were motivated by "vengefulness."

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Deutsche Welle, or DW, is Germany's public international broadcaster

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