The Oriolano poet Miguel Hernández was the central figure in a reparation ceremony for victims of the Franco dictatorship, held at the National Auditorium in Madrid. Presided over by Pedro Sánchez, the event featured significant government representation, including Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, who recently signed a declaration of reparation for 29 individuals persecuted during the Franco era, including Hernández.
The honorees included notable figures such as María Zambrano, Blas Infante, and Vicente Aleixandre. Also in attendance was the socialist spokesperson from Orihuela, Carolina Gracia.
The ceremony, titled “Remembrance Day for All Victims of the Military Coup, War, and Dictatorship,” opened with a musical performance by the French Lycée of Madrid choir and was hosted by journalist Iñaki Gabilondo. Hernández’s daughter-in-law, Lucía Izquierdo, received the declaration of reparation on behalf of the poet and other victims.
Originally scheduled for October 31, the ceremony was postponed due to the DANA that hit Valencia. Minister Torres began his speech by acknowledging those affected by the disaster and highlighted Hernández’s enduring legacy. Sánchez announced that in 2025, the government will commemorate 50 years of democracy with over 100 events under the theme “Spain in Freedom.”
Later in the day, a tribute to Hernández was held at the Athenaeum in Madrid, featuring cultural and political figures such as Joan Manuel Serrat and Manuela Carmena. The events celebrated Hernández’s contributions to literature and his enduring impact on democratic memory.
