The real and symbolic persecution of the Republic during the Transition and beyond

GironaFor the reformist sectors of the Franco regime, the monarchy established by General Franco was a red line that could not be crossed. Regardless of popular will, the king was an indisputable institution, guaranteeing the continuity of the system and its servants, and also allowing for a controlled transition. A referendum on the form of government was impossible, but not only that: everything that represented the image, value, and symbol of the Republic, such as the tricolor flag, was persecuted for several years. The struggle continued beyond the approval of the 1978 Constitution, beyond the years of institutional and political transition.

The electoralist or consensus-seeking parties—aware of their weakness—renounced their own convictions and agreed to enter the political game in order to be legalized for the June 1977 elections. Thus, the PCE and PSOE's renunciation of the defense of the Republican police left the future in the hands of the Republican tradition, whose social progress many people had fought for during the difficult times of the dictatorship.

In 1977 the Communist Party was legalized and the Movement's organization was dismantled, but the word republic It became a permanent taboo, and the groups that championed it were targeted for surveillance and restrictions. In Catalonia, in the first general elections, Esquerra Republicana could not explicitly use the frowned-upon word and had to run as Esquerra de Catalunya. Other groups that included this same idea were also not legalized.

Charge, stop, and hold for 72 hours

The anti-republican struggle was channeled through legislation, government orders, and law enforcement. In the first sense, on April 12, 1977, two days before the 46th anniversary of the proclamation of the Second Republic, the Official State Gazette (BOE) published a decree on freedom of expression (!), warning that publications would be confiscated.that constitute a demerit or detriment to the Monarchical Institution", which amounted to prohibiting debate on the form of government.

In the second instance, all civil governors received the regulations to be applied in response to the republican anniversary, signed by Enrique Sánchez de León, Director General of Domestic Policy and a member of Rodolfo Martín Villa's ministerial team. Among the special instructions for the 14th, the vehemence was undeniable: "The aim is not to disperse, but to forcefully suppress the slightest sign of unrest. The force must charge and arrest as many demonstrators as possible, who will be detained for 72 hours and subject to very heavy fines. These strict instructions will apply to any type of subversive action during that day, as this is what is being pursued."

The mobilization of law enforcement for that anniversary entailed an extraordinary deployment in Girona. The city was divided into four zones, and to control the events of April 13-14, the chief commissioner distributed his officers into day and night shifts to prevent propaganda activities. Sixteen officers were deployed for the night shift: Hernández Oliván, Rastrilla Sierra, Osorio Burón, Albacete Molina, Nevado González, Ramiro Cisnero, Castaño Moreno, Hoz Gabiola, Mariscal Carchenilla, Matito Soler, González Fiestas, Serrano Sanz, and Castro Juvant. Nine officers were deployed for the day shift: Haro Arrabal, Rosa Monge, Ortega Páez, Menac Menac, García Lanseros, Figueiras Allo, Jodra Arribas, Sanjuán Martínez, and Rodríguez Ballou.

Taking stock of the police operation, Governor Armando Murga was able to inform the Director General of Domestic Policy and the Director General of Security of the day's developments. Specifically, the appearance of two flags: one of Estat Català, at a construction site in Plaça Catalunya, connected to a simulated explosive device, and a republican flag, on La Rambla, which was immediately removed by the police. "without the slightest incident occurring, nor has it been possible to locate the perpetrators of the placement." 

The press was affected in another way. On April 16, the weekly Presence, The magazine, which—taking advantage of the anniversary—had placed the colors of the tricolor flag on its cover to announce a historical dossier on the 1931 events, also felt the effects. Although Article 2 of the Press Law had already been repealed, certain sacred subjects had to be respected: the monarchy, the armed forces, and the unity of Spain. Therefore, the delegation from the Ministry of Information and Tourism sent a copy of the magazine to the judicial authorities, in case it contained any infraction of the new press legislation.

The publication's director, Narcís-Jordi Aragó, was summoned to court and had to testify about the symbolic intention of the cover. Judge Fernández Oubiña merely fulfilled legal formalities and indicated that these proceedings, ridiculous and absurd, would be immediately dismissed. But the warning was nonetheless intimidating.

New coercive measures

Once the 1978 Constitution was approved, the persecution of republican symbols did not abate. The far-reaching effects of the attempted coup of February 23, 1981, were felt. Thus, on April 11 of that year, all civil governors received a telex from the Director General of Domestic Policy, Juan Gómez Arjona, ordering them—in anticipation of the upcoming April 14—to implement coercive measures aimed at preventing the appearance of commemorative propaganda (flags, symbols, posters, graffiti, banners). Another section of the ordinance specified that, from the moment the telex was received and in collaboration with the police services, "All types of mural propaganda and graffiti related to the date will be prevented, and these types of infractions will be prosecuted and punished."

In accordance with the orders received, on April 25, 1981, Governor Ramon Codina sent to the prosecutor of the Provincial Court a poster from the Republican Convention of the Peoples of Spain - Republican Union of Catalonia, which read: "For the Republic! For the popular freedoms of the people! For legalization. Republic!"

A license plate banned in 1989

The continuation of the bans against republican symbols was particularly evident during the PSOE governments. In 1989, the idea arose to place a plaque commemorating the last session of the republican Cortes in Figueres Castle, when the city in the Empordà region had become the capital of the Republic. The initiative did not originate from grassroots movements or any fringe organization, but rather from the Civil Government of Girona. For the planned ceremony, efforts were even made to ensure the attendance of José M. Prat, president of the Ateneo de Madrid and former socialist deputy.

Since the defensive compound was military property, Governor Pere Navarro, on January 27 of that year, requested the required authorization from the Captain General of Barcelona, ​​José Luis Carrasco Lanzos, a figure linked to the meetings prior to the coup d'état of February 23, 1981, although later – in 1987 – Narciso Serra.

On January 30, two days before the commemoration, the refusal arrived promptly: "I understand your interest in commemorating a historically significant event with a plaque. However, the fact is that Figueras Castle is currently a military site and, as such, must be protected from all symbols that are not strictly military. Therefore, I regret that I cannot grant a legitimate request that exceeds my authority."

In other words, fourteen years after General Franco's death, the initiative of the Civil Governor of Girona could not commemorate the last Republican Cortes, but symbols of the dictatorship were displayed in military barracks and even in the Captaincy General building in Barcelona. Military autonomy tolerated them, even though they were contrary to the existing constitutional order. For the Francoists, whether converted or not, the Republic was considered the enemy defeated in the Civil War.