The Xunta de Galicia has issued a proposed sanction against the Franco family of 3,000 euros for not opening the Casa Cornide to the public, a historic property that has been declared an asset of cultural interest (BIC), which means for the dictator’s heirs the obligation to allow visits at least four days a month. The building remains, however, completely inaccessible a year and a half later.
Given the non-compliance, the Xunta – responsible for ensuring compliance with the legal requirements that apply to the BICs -, after a year, demanded that the Francos send an opening schedule. The family, in response, has opted for the strategy of maintaining that they reside in the property, something that the Galician Government rules out due to the absence of furniture. Now, the EFE agency reports, the proposal is to impose a penalty of 3,000 euros for non-compliance.
The Xunta considers that the infraction is minor, hence the amount. The sanction proposal is not yet final and the dictator’s heirs have 15 days to present allegations from the notification, which has already been made. The reaction of the Franco family is reminiscent of what it had when the Pazo de Meirás was declared BIC in 2008. Then the descendants of the dictator litigated against the obligation to open the property to the public. The first visits were in 2011 and the task of organizing them was given to the Francisco Franco Foundation, which announced its intention to praise “the greatness” of the dictator. A historic 2020 ruling handed ownership over to the State.
Before it passed into public hands, the obstacles to visiting the Pazo de Meirás also led to a sanction procedure by the Xunta against the Franco family. The fine, of 4,500 euros, was never collected: the owner of the property, in whose name the sanction was, was Carmen Franco Polo, the dictator’s daughter. He died before the fine became final.
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