The grave of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange—a nationalist political movement active during Spain’s Civil War—has been vandalised with graffiti in Madrid’s San Isidro Cemetery, sparking outrage on social media. Although Primo de Rivera remains a deeply controversial figure—executed in 1936 after a disputed trial—this act has ignited debate about political polarisation and respect for the dead.
Many condemned the desecration, calling it a cowardly act that disrespects a complex chapter of Spanish history.
The incident comes as tensions rise over the government’s handling of historical memory, including controversial plans for the Valley of the Fallen. Spain appears increasingly split over how to confront its past.
