euro|topics - Spain's quest for justice

04/07/2009

English
Deutsch
Français

Main focus of Monday, October 20, 2008

Spain's quest for justice

The Spanish examining magistrate Baltasar Garzón wants to reexamine the crimes committed during the Spanish civil war and under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco that followed. Some people think the quest for justice is important. Others say Garzón is driven only by personal ambition. The European press asks how Spain should address its past.

ABC - Spain

The daily ABC believes what Garzón is doing is necessary despite the massive public criticism he has received. "The arguments that speak against what Garzón is doing are not unfounded. Putting Francoism on trial is not the most sensible, not the most practical and not the cheapest thing one could do. It is true that history has already punished him, it is true that the majority of people - the voters - have other priorities. But wherever there is even one injured party left demanding compensation, he will not be satisfied with a political response. And if this injured party demands justice in a case that has not yet been brought to trial, and if we speak of crimes against humanity for which there is no statute of limitations, then we should at least regard it as legitimate if judges seek a way of finding a judicial response - that is the Garzonada [Garzón's action]." (20/10/2008)

La Razón - Spain

The Spanish daily La Razón accuses the examining magistrate Baltasar Garzón of being driven more by a craving for personal recognition than by the quest for justice: "He has suddenly turned his investigation into crimes committed during the Civil War and under Franco into summary proceedings to prevent the public prosecutors from taking action and the criminal court from coming to a decision about whether the case falls within Garzón's jurisdiction or not. With this strategy he is forcing the public prosecutor's office to take legal action against his approach and [Garzón] will be given a certain amount of time to accept or reject the action. This will allow him enough time to open a few graves and have the media take photos of him holding up the skull of [Federico] García Lorca [the Spanish poet who fell victim to political purges]. ... Over the years Baltasar Garzón has repeatedly shown us that his actions are frequently motivated by an exaggerated need for personal recognition." (20/10/2008)

die tageszeitung - Germany

The daily die tageszeitung ponders the options for addressing the past. "Even though many of those responsible have been dead for a long time, Garzón's investigation into these 'crimes against humanity' is nonetheless important. Those left behind have been waiting far too long for justice. But addressing the past is complex. While there are many who hope that the mass graves scattered across the country will at last be opened and the remains of those who were murdered transferred to a cemetery, others do not feel comfortable with this idea. ... There is another, far more symbolic solution to keeping the memory of the terrible years of the civil war and the dictatorship alive. Instead of transferring the remains of all the victims to family graves, the mass grave of [Federico] García Lorca could serve as an example. Why don't the authorities take the initiative and set up memorials and parks wherever there are graves? This would make the terrible past much more tangible." (20/10/2008)

» To the complete press review of Monday, October 20, 2008

Bookmark this page at