It was time’s up for Gordon Brown yesterday, but also for some of Generalissimo Franco‘s heraldic emblems in Palma de Mallorca. Of course, there is no relation between the two events other than the timing. Whilst the British Prime Minister lasted in office for just under three years, the franquist and fascist heraldry lasted for just over 70 years. The Spanish Ley de la Memoria Histórica (Historical Memory Law) from 2007 urged, amongst other things, for the removal of names and symbols in public streets and places pertaining to the dark years of Spain’s history, i. e. the years of the Spanish Guerra Civil and the time of Francisco Franco, the dictator.

During the last six months, the offending coat of arm was removed in Palma de Mallorca from the Baleares memorial in Sa Feixina as well as from the army barracks of Son Simonet in Carretera de Valldemossa. The barracks of General Asensio in Palma were renamed as Base Jaume II. This week, it was the turn for the military installations in the Avenidas known as Cuartel de Ingenieros. Last Sunday, the enormous heraldic symbol topped with the imperial eagle was removed and yesterday, replaced with a slightly smaller coat of arms of constitutional symbolism, topped with a regal crown.

The photo (top) shows the new heraldic emblem in Palma’s Avinguda Gabriel Alomar, as it was mounted earlier this week. The photo (centre) shows the removed Franco symbol and the arrival of the new coat of arms. The photo (bottom) shows the old heraldic emblem as it was in place at the Cuartel de Ingenieros from 1939 until earlier this year.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: May 11th, 2010. The time was 18:27:22. The photo (centre) was taken from the Internet. Thanks are in order to diariodemallorca.es. and the photographer, B. Ramon. The photo (bottom) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 31st, 2010. The time was 16:02:40.

Muchas gracias and moltes gràcies.