The Senate urges the Government to recognize Miguel de Molina as a retaliated victim of Franco’s regime

The plenary session of the Senate approved this Wednesday a motion registered by the Socialist Parliamentary Group for the recognition of the figure of Miguel De Molina as a retaliated victim of Franco’s regime as well as for the preservation and display of his legacy for permanent exhibition.

The initiative has gone ahead thanks to the vote in favor of the PP, which has a majority in the Upper House, the Basque Popular Group and the Plural Group. The rest of the groups, including Vox, have not been present in the debate.

“We present this motion because his life is framed in the environment of the Generation of ’27, sharing friendship with Lorca or Alberti. Like them, he suffered the scourge of the political intolerance of the time. Miguel de Molina was a victim of humiliation and torture to make him leave Spain. An exile that was also internal because he was vilified for his homosexuality. For all this, his work must be preserved and that current and future generations know who he was.“said the PSOE senator, Marta Jorgina Saavedra, who has detailed that her training aims to recognize the artist as an LGTBI victim and victim of Franco’s regime.

The initiative also urges the Government to consider, together with local and regional administrations that are interested in its development, the implementation of a center for the permanent exhibition of its legacy. “Thus, from then on, avenues of collaboration can be explored to promote research and studies on cultural history during the Second Republic and the Franco regime,” added the senator.

For her part, PP senator María José Ortega, in defense of the amendment, has stated that it is a “unique” opportunity to vindicate both the memory of Miguel de Molina and his legacy beyond Spain. “Miguel de Molina was a victim of Franco’s repression for his identity, his art and he is a symbol of the fight for freedom and his recognition must transcend to the international level.“, he stated.

In this regard, it has presented two amendments to complete this initiative, which have been accepted. In the first of them, the Cervantes Institute is asked to “disseminate the life and work” of Miguel de Molina in all locations to learn about. “This dissemination is crucial to strengthen the recognition of his figure and, at the same time, project the Spanish cultural wealth throughout the world.“, he assured.

In the second, it requests the Ministry of Culture to be “actively” involved in promoting initiatives that investigate and study the impact of Miguel de Molina, not only in Spain, but throughout Latin America. “His influence is undeniable and we cannot forget that his exile also goes beyond Argentina, as he was also forced to go to Mexico.“he specified.

“We must encourage the study of his legacy, ensuring that his story inspires future generations of artists and academics, based on respect, tolerance and living in freedom. A true commitment to culture cannot be limited to symbolic acts. This is what that Miguel de Molina deserves and is what our culture needs,” he explained.

VOX, “THE GREAT ABSENCE”

In the turn of spokespersons, Senator Xavier Ten Costa (Junts), of the Plural Group, has shown his support for the motion, but has acknowledged that he would like the recognition to also go to “so many other victims that there were during the Franco regime“. “It would have been fair to explain the focus on Miguel de Molina and the rest. But we are not going to oppose general cultural issues“, he highlighted.

In relation to the absence of Vox, Saavedra has stated that it has been “the great absence”, since he would have liked to know his opinion on the matter. “There is still time to join this cause and be an example like the rest of the groups here today,” he stated.