MADRID – A bar in Madrid’s Usera district has put tables on its terrace with an image of dictator Francisco Franco. An alderman of the townhall reported this on Friday. That no one is doing anything about it “is a shame”, according to Álvaro Vidal.
Other politicians from the PSOE and Podemos also publicly condemn that a bar in Madrid’s Usera district openly supports Francoism. The news about the fascist statement was published on Friday by the newspaper Público.es. It elicited a lot of reactions on social media. Furthermore, on Friday morning, PSOE councillor Alvaro Vidal raised the issue during a debate.
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According to the newspaper, Vidal took out a photo of the offending table during the meeting on the terrace regulation. It shows the Spanish flag from the Franco era with the face of the dictator in the foreground. Vidal showed the photo to the deputy mayor of the city of Madrid, Begoña Villacís (Ciudadanos) after she spoke positively about the respect for terrace regulation in the city. With this regard, Vidal denounced the passivity of the city council concerning illegal terraces and matters such as this.
Limits to freedom of expression
Many of the users on Twitter who responded to the news question whether these kinds of statements are reportable or not. Specifically, it reopens the debate on the limits of freedom of expression. In this sense, Huffington Post writes that the law currently protects expressing these kinds of ideas. The law understands that expressions, gestures and images like those in the photo, even if they are annoying or hurtful to some, must be respected in a democratic society.
Comments on Twitter
Podemos advisor Roberto Sotomayor posted a photo of the table on Twitter. Subsequently, a barrage of responses followed: ‘Given the passivity of the Madrid City Council. The same one that breaks the verses of Miguel Hernández. These people need removedmoved’.
Ante la pasividad del Ayuntamiento de Madrid. El mismo que rompe los versos de Miguel Hernández.
Hay que sacar a esta gente.
— Roberto Sotomayor 🔻 (@SuperRoStar) September 16, 2022
@Jonathantudeccs: Fascist Spain is roaming free in this regime of Bourbons, Opusdeinians and ultra-rights (R-78) who control economic power, the media (#FerrerasGate), the judges, the Villarejos, the Jusapoles check…Stop fascism!!
La España fascista campa a sus anchas en este régimen de borbones, opusdeinianos y ultraderechistas (R-78) que controlan el poder económico, los medios (#FerrerasGate), los jueces, los villarejos, los jusapoles..
Stop Fascismo!!https://t.co/ZEpvfIr62i— Jonathan Rodriguez (@Jonathantudeccs) September 16, 2022
@MorenoG_Agustin: Who will defend us against the fascists? Not Almeida. Who Enforces the Democratic Remembrance Act? What is the government delegation doing?
¿Quién nos defiende de los fascistas? Almeida, no. ¿Quién hace cumplir la Ley de Memoria Democrática? ¿Dónde se mete la Delegación del Gobierno?👇🏾👇🏼
Un bar saca mesas a la calle con la cara del dictador Franco ante la pasividad del Ayuntamiento de Madrid https://t.co/hB8PTCa5RD— Agustín Moreno (@MorenoG_Agustin) September 16, 2022
@miguelmunozort: In recent years there has been a lot of laughter about the “Chinese facha” bar in Usera. It’s not funny and it’s inexplicable how people can carry out Franco propaganda every day with impunity
Durante los últimos años ha habido mucha coña con lo del bar del "chino facha" de Usera. No hace ninguna gracia y es inexplicable cómo se puede hacer propaganda franquista impunemente todos los días https://t.co/xiH4mZCTL5
— Miguel Muñoz (@miguelmunozort) September 16, 2022
