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Franco's remains to finally leave Spain's Valley of the Fallen Franco's remains to finally leave Spain's Valley of the Fallen
(32 minutes later)
Spain’s socialist government is finally set to fulfil one of its key promises on Thursday when the remains of General Franco are exhumed from the austere splendour of the Valley of the Fallen and transferred to his family mausoleum outside Madrid. Spain’s socialist government is finally to fulfil one of its key promises when the remains of General Franco are exhumed from the austere splendour of the Valley of the Fallen and transferred to his family mausoleum outside Madrid.
If all goes to plan, the 1.5-tonne slab that has covered the dictator’s tomb will be lifted at 10.30am and the coffin removed and flown by helicopter or taken by road to Mingorrubio-El Pardo municipal cemetery. If all goes to plan, the 1.5-tonne slab that has covered the dictator’s tomb will be lifted at 10.30am on Thursday and the coffin removed and flown by helicopter or taken by road to Mingorrubio-El Pardo municipal cemetery.
Franco’s remains have had pride of place in the basilica, which lies 40 miles (64km) from Madrid, since his death in 1975. Franco’s remains have had pride of place in the basilica, which is 40 miles (64km) north-west of Madrid, since his death in 1975.
Although the Valley of the Fallen and its towering, 150-metre (490ft) cross ostensibly commemorate all those killed in the Spanish civil war, for many people it serves only to glorify Franco and his four-decade dictatorship. Although the Valley of the Fallen and its 150-metre (490ft) cross ostensibly commemorate all those killed in the Spanish civil war, for many people, it serves only to glorify Franco and his four-decade dictatorship.
The government said the dictator’s remains needed to be moved as they could no longer “remain in a public mausoleum that exalts his figure”, adding that the removal would “symbolically close the circle of Spanish democracy”.The government said the dictator’s remains needed to be moved as they could no longer “remain in a public mausoleum that exalts his figure”, adding that the removal would “symbolically close the circle of Spanish democracy”.
The move has been bitterly opposed by the Franco family, the foundation that bears his name, and the Benedictine abbot who presides over the basilica.The move has been bitterly opposed by the Franco family, the foundation that bears his name, and the Benedictine abbot who presides over the basilica.
But after months of appeals and legal arguments, Spain’s supreme court gave permission for the exhumation at the end of September.But after months of appeals and legal arguments, Spain’s supreme court gave permission for the exhumation at the end of September.
On Thursday morning, 22 members of the Franco family will gather in the basilica, along with Spain’s justice minister, Dolores Delgado, in her role as chief notary of the kingdom. On Thursday morning, 22 members of the Franco family will gather in the basilica, along with Spain’s justice minister, Dolores Delgado, in her role as first notary of the kingdom.
A canopy has been erected to cover the grave and guard against any attempts to film the exhumation. Those present will be checked for electronic devices to make sure there are no images or sounds recordings of the exhumation. A canopy has been erected to cover the grave and guard against any attempts to film the exhumation. Those present will be checked for electronic devices to make sure there are no images or sound recordings of the exhumation.
Last Saturday, a journalist dressed as a monk and equipped with a climbing harness was arrested at the valley, allegedly while trying to gain access to the site to set up cameras.Last Saturday, a journalist dressed as a monk and equipped with a climbing harness was arrested at the valley, allegedly while trying to gain access to the site to set up cameras.
Once the heavy slab has been lifted using hydraulic jacks, the wooden coffin will be inspected to see how well it has endured 44 years of burial and checked for possible water damage. The coffin was surrounded with lead and concrete to protect it against underground streams.Once the heavy slab has been lifted using hydraulic jacks, the wooden coffin will be inspected to see how well it has endured 44 years of burial and checked for possible water damage. The coffin was surrounded with lead and concrete to protect it against underground streams.
Franco’s body is further protected by a zinc box within the coffin, which is expected to be in good condition. If necessary, the zinc box containing the remains will be placed in a new coffin.Franco’s body is further protected by a zinc box within the coffin, which is expected to be in good condition. If necessary, the zinc box containing the remains will be placed in a new coffin.
The exhumation phase could take between one and three hours, after which the remains will be blessed by the prior, Santiago Cantera, and the coffin carried out of the basilica by family members.The exhumation phase could take between one and three hours, after which the remains will be blessed by the prior, Santiago Cantera, and the coffin carried out of the basilica by family members.
If flying conditions are suitable, an air force helicopter will transport the body, Delgado and one Franco family member to Mingorrubio-El Pardo cemetery, a 15-minute flight from the valley. Airspace over the route will be closed to traffic and drones.If flying conditions are suitable, an air force helicopter will transport the body, Delgado and one Franco family member to Mingorrubio-El Pardo cemetery, a 15-minute flight from the valley. Airspace over the route will be closed to traffic and drones.
If it is too foggy or windy, the coffin will be driven in a hearse, which could take 40 minutes.If it is too foggy or windy, the coffin will be driven in a hearse, which could take 40 minutes.
A private family service will be held inside the Franco mausoleum, where the dictator’s widow, Carmen Polo, was buried following her death in 1988. At the family’s request, mass will be said by Ramón Tejero. A private family service will be held inside the Franco mausoleum, where the dictator’s widow, Carmen Polo, was buried after her death in 1988. At the family’s request, mass will be said by Ramón Tejero.
The priest is the son of Antonio Tejero, the Guardia Civil lieutenant colonel who led the failed 1981 military coup that sought to seize control of the country after its return to democracy following Franco’s death.The priest is the son of Antonio Tejero, the Guardia Civil lieutenant colonel who led the failed 1981 military coup that sought to seize control of the country after its return to democracy following Franco’s death.
According to the government, the exhumation and reinterment will cost around €63,000 (£54,000). According to the government, the exhumation and reinterment will cost about €63,000 (£54,000).
The move comes 12 years after the previous socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero introduced the historical memory law, which sought to help the country come to terms with its past and assist people in finding and exhuming the bodies of their relatives who were killed in the civil war. Twelve years ago, the previous socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero introduced the historical memory law, which sought to help the country come to terms with its past and assist people in finding and exhuming the bodies of relatives killed in the civil war.
About 100,000 victims of the conflict are thought still to lie in the unmarked graves where they were buried during the conflict. Spain is thought to have more mass graves than any country except Cambodia. About 100,000 victims of the conflict are thought to lie in the unmarked graves where they were buried during the conflict. Spain is believed to have more mass graves than any country except Cambodia.
The Valley of the Fallen, partly built by the forced labour of political prisoners, is Spain’s largest mass grave and holds the bodies of more than 33,000 people from both sides of the civil war.The Valley of the Fallen, partly built by the forced labour of political prisoners, is Spain’s largest mass grave and holds the bodies of more than 33,000 people from both sides of the civil war.
In July last year, the Spanish government announced plans to establish a truth commission to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the Franco regime.In July last year, the Spanish government announced plans to establish a truth commission to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the Franco regime.
The government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, said it would compile a census of the victims of the civil war and the ensuing dictatorship, and also open an estimated 1,200 mass graves. The government, led by the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said it would compile a census of the victims of the civil war and the ensuing dictatorship, and also open an estimated 1,200 mass graves.
SpainSpain
Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco
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