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Another Flag Spurs Controversy, This Time in Spain Another Flag Spurs Controversy, This Time in Spain
(about 3 hours later)
MADRID — The running of the bulls this week in Pamplona, Spain, has produced its usual share of drama, including the goring of two Americans and one Briton on Tuesday.MADRID — The running of the bulls this week in Pamplona, Spain, has produced its usual share of drama, including the goring of two Americans and one Briton on Tuesday.
But for once, the controversy surrounding one of Spain’s most famous annual events has focused not so much on the dangers of dodging bulls hurtling down streets, but rather on the Basque flag that has been flying for the first time from the city hall. But the controversy surrounding one of Spain’s most famous annual events has for once not focused exclusively on the dangers of dodging bulls hurtling down streets, but rather on the Basque flag that has been flying for the first time from Pamplona’s city hall.
The flag, known as the Ikurriña, was raised by the new mayor of Pamplona, Joseba Asirón, who took office after Spain’s municipal elections in May. Mr. Asirón represents Euskal Herria Bildu, a radical political coalition pushing for the independence of the Basque Country, which could also include the Spanish region of Navarre, whose capital is Pamplona. The red, green and white flag also made an appearance on the city’s streets, as revelers used the symbol to show their support for the independence of the Basque Country, which could also include the Spanish region of Navarre, whose capital is Pamplona.
In response, the central government in Madrid started legal action against a flag-hoisting decision that it contends is in violation of Navarre’s own legislation. Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, said in an interview with Telecinco, a Spanish television channel, that flying the Basque flag in Pamplona showed that there were “some people” whose goal was to “take over Navarre and a part of France” — a reference to the fact that the Basque Country stretches into neighboring France. The controversy coincides with the cultural and political upheaval in the United States over the Confederate battle flag, which has long been controversial but was seized on as a visible symbol of intolerance after the massacre of black worshipers by a man with white supremicist ties last month at a church in Charleston, S.C.
The Ikurriña controversy coincides with the cultural and political upheaval in the United States over the Confederate battle flag, after the massacre of worshipers last month at a church in Charleston, S.C. The Basque flag, known as the Ikurriña, was raised by Joseba Asirón, who took office as mayor after Spain’s municipal elections in May. Mr. Asirón represents Euskal Herria Bildu, a radical political coalition pushing for the Basque’s independence.
Spain has recently struggled with other separatist tensions, particularly a conflict between Mr. Rajoy’s government in Madrid and the regional government of Catalonia, which has been pushing to secede from the rest of Spain. Catalan separatism has also involved arguments over what flag people can fly and when — an issue that has even transcended Spain’s borders. The central government in Madrid contends that the decision to hoist the flag violates Navarre’s own laws, and has started legal action.
Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, said in an interview with Telecinco, a Spanish television channel, that flying the flag showed that there were “some people” whose goal was to “take over Navarre and a part of France” — a reference to the fact that the Basque Country stretches into neighboring France.
Spain has a history of separatist movements, and tensions have flared recently on several fronts, including between Mr. Rajoy’s government in Madrid and the regional government of Catalonia, which has been pushing to secede from the rest of Spain.
The Catalan movement has had its own flag controversy over what people can fly and when — an issue that has even transcended Spain’s borders.
The governing body of European soccer, UEFA, is set to decide this month whether to fine the Barcelona team or even force it to play some matches behind closed doors after its fans waved pro-independence Catalan flags during their team’s Champions League victory in Berlin last month. UEFA bans flags that are considered to have “messages of a political, ideological, religious, offensive and provocative nature.”The governing body of European soccer, UEFA, is set to decide this month whether to fine the Barcelona team or even force it to play some matches behind closed doors after its fans waved pro-independence Catalan flags during their team’s Champions League victory in Berlin last month. UEFA bans flags that are considered to have “messages of a political, ideological, religious, offensive and provocative nature.”
On the other hand, Spain’s national flag has just been granted additional protection as part of a public safety law that came into force July 1 and allows the police to impose fines of as much as 30,000 euros for “offenses or insults” to Spain and its symbols, starting with its flag.On the other hand, Spain’s national flag has just been granted additional protection as part of a public safety law that came into force July 1 and allows the police to impose fines of as much as 30,000 euros for “offenses or insults” to Spain and its symbols, starting with its flag.
But as Spain prepares for a general election this year, the political importance of its national flag has also become apparent. Last month, after being officially endorsed as the Socialist challenger to Mr. Rajoy, the leader of the main opposition Socialist party, Pedro Sánchez, delivered his first speech against the unusual background of a giant Spanish flag. But as Spain prepares for a general election this year, the political importance of its national flag has also become apparent. Last month, after being officially endorsed as the Socialist challenger to Mr. Rajoy, the leader of the main opposition Socialist party, Pedro Sánchez, delivered his first speech against the unusual backdrop of a giant Spanish flag.
Since the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Spain’s flag has mostly been promoted by conservative politicians. In fact, “the national flag has historically proved a problem because of the way it was appropriated and politicized by Franco,” said Marian Ahumada Ruiz, professor of constitutional law at the Autonomous University of Madrid. In turn, she said, Basques and Catalans turned their flags not only into symbols of their own identities but also into acts of defiance against the Franco government. Since the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Spain’s flag has mostly been promoted by conservative politicians. In fact, “the national flag has historically proved a problem because of the way it was appropriated and politicized by Franco,” said Marian Ahumada Ruiz, professor of constitutional law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Mr. Sánchez said he had chosen to promote Spain’s flag because it had been “a pending subject” for the Socialists. He added that the national flag “represents a lot of the good things” that the Socialists have contributed to Spain. In turn, she said, Basques and Catalans turned their flags not only into symbols of their own identities but also into acts of defiance against the Franco government.
Mr. Sánchez said he had chosen to promote Spain’s flag because it had been “a pending subject” for the Socialists. He added that it “represents a lot of the good things” that the Socialists have contributed to Spain.
José María de Areilza, a professor of law at the Esade business school, said: “We’ve got a relatively young democracy in which it can be difficult to make symbols coexist, particularly at a time of economic and institutional crisis. A crisis like the one we’ve been through certainly makes people think again about their identity and where they live, and flags form part of that rethink.”José María de Areilza, a professor of law at the Esade business school, said: “We’ve got a relatively young democracy in which it can be difficult to make symbols coexist, particularly at a time of economic and institutional crisis. A crisis like the one we’ve been through certainly makes people think again about their identity and where they live, and flags form part of that rethink.”
In another sign of the political changes in Spain, Madrid’s city hall displayed for the first time a giant rainbow-colored flag for last week’s gay pride party there. Hanging the flag was among the first decisions of the new mayor, Manuela Carmena, a far-left politician who ousted Madrid’s conservative administration in May’s municipal elections. In Madrid, too, a flag was recently embraced as a powerful symbol of change when its city hall displayed for the first time a giant rainbow-colored flag for last week’s gay pride party. Hanging the flag was among the first decisions of the new mayor, Manuela Carmena, a far-left politician who ousted Madrid’s conservative administration in May’s municipal elections.
In Pamplona, Mr. Asirón, the mayor, continues to defend adding the Basque flag to the four others on the city hall: those of Pamplona, Navarre, Spain and the European Union. Even facing a lawsuit, he told reporters that the flag had been raised not only as a mark of respect toward Basque lawmakers who were visiting Pamplona for the running of the bulls, but also as “an additional sign of normality,” rather than sticking to what he called the “sectarian” law of Navarre on flag usage. In Pamplona, Mr. Asirón, the mayor, continues to defend his addition of the Basque flag to the four others at city hall: those of Pamplona, Navarre, Spain and the European Union. He told reporters that the flag had been raised as a mark of respect toward Basque lawmakers who were visiting Pamplona for the running of the bulls, but also as “an additional sign of normality,” rather than sticking to what he called the “sectarian” law of Navarre on flag usage.
The Basque flag, he added, “is a reflection of the pluralism within the society of Pamplona, nothing more.”The Basque flag, he added, “is a reflection of the pluralism within the society of Pamplona, nothing more.”