Spanish government takes legal action to shut down Franco foundation

The Democratic Memory law contains provisions for closing down foundations that apologise for Francoism, ‘glorifying the coup d’etat, the dictatorship or its leaders’. Photograph: Isabel Infantes Morcillo/Getty Images

Spain’s socialist-led government has begun legal action to shut down a group that exists to promote and preserve the legacy of Gen Francisco Franco, the dictator who ruled the country for almost 40 years.

In a statement on Thursday morning, Spain’s culture minister, Ernest Urtasun, said he had initiated judicial proceedings to have the National Francisco Franco Foundation (FNFF) dissolved because of its failure to comply with legislation that forbids any attempt to glorify the Franco regime.