Red numbers and only a basement valued at 20,000 euros: the “heritage” of the Franco group that laughs at the law by heart

The most national basement in the country is at number 12 General Lacy Street in Madrid. The person responsible for the keys, Jose Luis Corralassures that this place loaded with ultra paraphernalia is the only heritage that the Spanish Catholic Movement (MCE)the group that organizes events in apology for the dictatorship and that, despite this, so far he has not been fined for violating the Memory Law.

A bust of Franco and another of José Antonio Primo de Rivera preside over Corral’s desk. Behind, in front, to the sides and wherever you look they appear Francoist flags or shields in its most varied shapes and sizes. There is also room for a photo of John Paul II and a black and white portrait of Franco.

“Being an eminently youthful and poor movement, our headquarters have been few and small, but they have fulfilled a precious function of organization, formation, experience and sanctification“, recalled the leader of the MCE in a text published in May 2020, during confinement due to the pandemic.

The basement on General Lacy Street began to function as the headquarters of this Franco group in 1996. In its financial summaries it is cited as the sole assets of the organization. Its value, according to MCE data, reaches 20,000 euros.

The movement led by Corral declared income of 2,150 euros in 2023, while expenses were 2,675 euros, which shows accounts with a negative balance of 525 euros. Revenues since 2017 have fallen by more than 30%, which explains the red numbers in recent years. The data also shows that the favorable cash balance as of December 31, 2023 – in the form of savings – stood at 2,987 euros.

With those numbers on the table, the ultras recently activated an online store in which they sell clothing, bracelets, flags and other items of Franco exaltation, in addition to patches or caps with the swastika.

As announced Public a few days ago, Among the items for sale was a sweatshirt with the acronym Adolf Hitler was right (AHTR)an emblem used by neo-Nazi groups. After the publication of this information, the garment in question has disappeared from its catalog.

The challenges of the CEF also include some macabre lists: Every few weeks, the ultras publish on their Telegram channel the names of left-wing militants, victims of Francoism, trade unionists or deceased journalists, along with denigrating comments such as “rojiprogre harvest”, “they will not return from vacation” or “they will not be able to vote”, as documented by this newspaper.

Government sources indicated Public who will review the information on these lists in case it could imply any type of violation of the Democratic Memory Law. This group has not received any type of sanction despite having carried out nearly about thirty rallies in apology for Franco since the new regulations came into force, two years ago.

Again in Plaza de Oriente

With their pockets still intact – and the accounts in negative balance –, the ultras plan to hold another rally to exalt the dictatorship facing a new 20N, a date marked in red on the calendar of the far right.

The group led by Corral will gather on Sunday, November 24, in Plaza de Oriente to honor Francoalthough officially the rally will be to “protest against the Democratic Memory Law”, an excuse designed to avoid problems with the Government Delegation.

The MCE was filed in November 2022 for a possible violation of the Democratic Memory Law following a rally with identical characteristics in Plaza de Oriente. That day, Corral attacked the victims of Francoism and spoke of “Luciferian, satanic, evil Marxism.” “Those are the bad ones, we have to put an end to them, even after death“, he stated. As confirmed Publicthat procedure was closed without any fine for the MCE.

Until now, the only sanction imposed for violating the Democratic Memory Law has been for Falange for the acts of Franco exaltation recorded around 20N. The sanction against the Falangists was 10,000 euros, as a very serious violation. If the MCE received such a sanction, it would see five years of income affected.