Spain Officially Recognizes Political Persecution of Ulpiano Alonso During Franco Regime
The Spanish Government has officially recognized labor leader Ulpiano Alonso as a victim of ideological persecution during the Franco dictatorship, restoring his dignity and annulling his conviction.
- • The Spanish Government issued a Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation for Ulpiano Alonso.
- • The declaration invalidates the court that sentenced Alonso and annuls his conviction from the Franco era.
- • Alonso was a key labor leader executed in 1939 after a summary trial without legal rights.
- • The recognition was driven by a parliamentary motion and highlights commitment to democratic justice and memory.
- • Roberto Rovira emphasized the importance of restoring dignity to victims and their families.
Key details
The Spanish Government has officially recognized Ulpiano Alonso as a victim of political and ideological persecution under the Franco dictatorship. This acknowledgment comes through a Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation issued by Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, which also invalidates the court that sentenced Alonso and annuls his conviction. The declaration, based on Spain's Law of Democratic Memory, underscores the State's dedication to justice, truth, and reparation, aiming to restore dignity to victims of political repression and preserve their freedom-fighting memory.
Ulpiano Alonso, born on September 7, 1897, in Barruelo de Santullán, was a prominent labor leader and president of several worker organizations who played a vital role in the socialist movement and industry during the Spanish Civil War. Following the conflict, Alonso was detained and subjected to a summary trial lacking legal guarantees, leading to his execution on November 17, 1939, alongside 45 others.
The recognition was prompted by a motion initially presented by EU-Unides Podem and amended by the PSPV-PSOE, urging the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory to grant Alonso this official status. Roberto Rovira, councilor for Historical and Democratic Memory, emphasized that this act represents democratic justice by symbolically repairing the wounds caused by the Franco regime, restoring dignity to Alonso's family, and reaffirming democratic institutions' responsibility to honor those who suffered for freedom and democracy.
This development marks a significant step forward in Spain’s ongoing efforts to address historical injustices from the Franco era by recognizing and compensating victims of political persecution, reinforcing democratic memory and the principles of justice and human rights.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
