A political scandal has erupted in the small Andalusian town of Puente de Génave, home to just over two thousand residents. The head of the municipality, Francisco García Avilés from the Vox party, is again in the spotlight after releasing 2026 calendars featuring images of Francisco Franco and the old version of the Spanish flag with the eagle, which has been declared unconstitutional.
The calendars were distributed among clients of an accounting firm previously owned by the mayor. They featured slogans glorifying the dictatorship era. García Avilés not only refused to apologize, but publicly stated that such actions are an expression of freedom of opinion, and that criticism comes from those who cannot accept the events of the past century.
The situation was further complicated by the fact that this is not the first time the mayor has used such symbols. In 2024, he also distributed calendars with portraits of Franco and José Antonio Primo de Rivera, but at that time the incident did not cause such an uproar. Now, after his victory in the municipal elections, there is much greater attention on García Avilés’ actions.
Public and political reaction
The mayor’s actions sparked a wave of outrage among representatives of left-wing parties and civic organizations. They viewed the distribution of the calendars as an attempt to rehabilitate the dictatorship and an insult to the memory of its victims. In response, local authorities launched an investigation, and the case was handed over to state agencies responsible for enforcing the law on the memory of dictatorship victims.
A heated debate erupted on social media. Some users supported the mayor, seeing his actions as a display of civic stance, while others condemned him, recalling the tragic chapters of the country’s history. Garcia Aviles himself continues to defend his actions, insisting it was merely an artistic gesture and an expression of personal views.
Consequences and future developments
Amid the scandal, a massive national symbol that stood at the entrance to the municipality disappeared from the city. This incident further fueled tensions and escalated the confrontation between the mayor and the opposition. Representatives of the Socialists and other left-wing movements are demanding that Garcia Aviles be held accountable for potentially violating the memory law and for inciting social conflict.
It remains unclear what consequences this story will have for the mayor himself and his political career. However, it is evident that the situation in Puente de Génave has become a reflection of deeper divisions in Spanish society, where issues of historical memory and symbolism still provoke fierce debate.
