The Catalan government, in its meeting this Tuesday, has approved a framework agreement to undertake measures "as soon as possible" to stop the activities of neo-fascist groups in Catalonia, in all areas under its control. Specifically, the presidency minister, Elsa Artadi, has announced that they will undertake actions against the Francisco Franco Foundation to meet the requirements of a European Parliament resolution on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe and current legislation.
These initiatives, adopted following a proposal from president Quim Torra, come a week after reports emerged that the Foundation plans to open a delegation in Barcelona.
The cabinet notes that the foundation's objective is to promote the figure of the dictator and contribute to the spread of his ideology. They believe that this doesn't meet the requirement of general interest for objectives required by current legislation and that it contradicts the law on historic memory, for which they will undertake the "necessary initiatives", said Artadi.
The European Parliament's resolution, from 25th October 2018, notes the increase in activity of neo-fascist groups and neo-Nazis in Europe and that this incites violence and hatred. The text of the motion, which mentions an attack in Madrid's Blanquerna bookshop on 11th September 2013, says that the Francisco Franco Foundation "glorifies the dictatorship and its crimes".
The Catalan government notes that the European chamber condemned entities which promote or glorify neo-fascist ideologies and the impunity with which they act, and called on member states to undertake actions in areas like culture, education, social media, police, justice and sport aimed at countering the rise of neo-fascist violence in the continent.
President Torra, for his part, wrote on Twitter: "The Catalan government is working to end with the Francisco Franco Foundation's activities in Catalonia. Apologising for and defending a dictatorship is counter to democracy and the values of peace and liberty. We must always take action against fascism. They shall not pass".
El @Govern treballa per acabar amb les activitats a Catalunya de la Fundació Francisco Franco. Fer apologia i defensa d'una dictadura és contradictori amb la democràcia i els valors de pau i llibertat. Cal actuar sempre contra el feixisme. No passaran.https://t.co/7etKwr1i9M
— Quim Torra i Pla (@QuimTorraiPla) 20 novembre 2018