Spanish Government Orders Removal of Cáceres Cross

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Spanish Government Orders Removal of Cáceres Cross

gloria.tv | June 1, 2026

The Spanish government has given the city of Cáceres three months to remove the Cross of the Fallen (Cruz de los Caídos), a monument erected in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War.

The cross stands in Plaza de América in central Cáceres, about 300 kilometres west of Madrid. In April 2026, it was added to Spain's catalog of symbols contrary to "democratic" memory under a 2022 'Democratic Memory Law'.

The government classifies the monument as a Francoist symbol and argues that it lacks sufficient artistic or historical singularity to justify its continued presence in public space.

The Cáceres City Council disputes that interpretation.

Mayor Rafael Mateos (PP) says the monument has become part of the city's urban landscape and is no longer widely associated with political exaltation. The council plans to challenge the order in court and seek suspension of the three-month deadline while legal proceedings are underway.

Mateos also argues that the government's initial removal order, issued in April, was signed by an authority lacking the necessary legal competence. A new resolution was subsequently issued in May, which the city is also contesting.

Meanwhile, the regional government of Extremadura, with the support of PP and Vox, is seeking Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) status for the monument, Spain's highest level of heritage protection.

The dispute is expected to be decided by the courts.