The Spanish government would exhume Franco before the 25th …

The vice-president of the Spanish government, Carmen Calvo, announced after the Council of Ministers that the remains of dictator Francisco Franco would be exhumed from the valley of the dead before 25 October.

On that occasion, the executive avoided setting a specific date for the exhumation – contrary to what he had done in May – although he had to notify the family, who had already indicated that she wanted to be present. The media will not have access (the valley of the dead will be closed), but they will also be informed in advance of the day and time at which the exhumation will take place.

Calvo explained that the exhumation would be carried out when "technical and security means" permitting it would be available and that it would be carried out in accordance with the criteria defined by the executive in the two previous resolutions.

Calvo assured that the exhumation would take place "with absolute respect for the remains and the family"; and that this will be sought with the utmost discretion and with the least inconvenience to the citizens.

The Vice President downplayed the fact that a specific date has not yet been set, recalled that everyone would join her 48 hours in advance and said that it is only because they have to take " certain final decisions relating to enforcement ". d & # 39; exhumation. "

Executive sources said the transfer would cost about 11,000 euros and they expressed confidence that the deadline will not be rushed, indicating that the exhumation could take place between 18 and 22 October.

Calvo is delighted to have reached the end of the process and assured that there would be more agreements on this issue: "It's the last one" , did he declare. And, in his opinion, this decision of the government implies "to close with dignity what was not worthy, forty years later", he declared.

The exhumation operation will have a coroner and the Minister of Justice, and the remains will be transferred to the Mingorrubio cemetery, where already rest the remains of the dictator's wife.

Calvo has always insisted on the importance of Franco's exhumation "because a dictator can not be in the grave of a democratic regime"

The Vice President stated that she was not worried about the position of the prior of the Valley of the Fallen and his opposition to the removal of the remains of the dictator. She stressed that the law would be respected and that this measure would be taken with the approval of the president. legislative, executive and judicial powers. He also recalled that the Church had followed the decision.

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