ARCA: "Preserving the Feixina has not contributed to it becoming the 'ultra' meeting point"

PalmaThe ultra concentration of Núcleo Nacional scheduled for this Sunday at La Feixina has revived the debate on the desirability of preserving this space. ARCA is one of the most prominent entities opposed to its demolition, which a large part of the progressive movement is calling for, because the monument represents "Francoist exaltation", according to entities such as Memòria de Mallorca. The spokesperson for ARCA, Àngels Fermosselle, wants to "completely" disassociate the entity from "any responsibility for a meeting for which only the conveners are responsible", she told ARA Balears – ARCA has also publicly condemned the call.

The meeting comes amid a new institutional clash between the Spanish government and the Palma City Council over the future of the monument. Recently, the State Secretariat for Democratic Memory has ordered its removal, considering it incompatible with memorial legislation, while Cort has reacted and protected its heritage.

True to its stance, ARCA has decided to appeal the Spanish government's resolution to demolish La Feixina. The entity considers that Madrid's decision ignores the heritage criteria and institutional agreements that have supported the monument's preservation for years. Meanwhile, Cort has reinforced its urban and heritage protection to hinder any demolition attempt. The entity rejects that its historical and heritage defense of the monolith has contributed to turning it into "a far-right meeting space", criticizes Fermosselle.

“When Francisco Roca created the work, he used the techniques and styles of the time. It is a work of historical interest”, explains Fermoselle, who claims the monolith's architectural value. “It is one of the few examples of Art Deco in the Balearic Islands”, she adds. The Spanish government considers La Feixina to be a Francoist monument and has requested its demolition. The current Cort government team emphasizes that the monument cannot be demolished due to its architectural and historical value.

Fermoselle recalls that the entity's position has always been in line with what experts such as architect José Morata and Carlos García-Delgado defended. “As Pepín Morata said, it is about separating the symbolism from the architecture”, she points out. According to the spokesperson for ARCA, the entity could have opted for a simpler position. “Perhaps it would have been easier to also ask for it to be demolished, but we cannot ignore voices like Morata's nor heritage and legal criteria that informed in favor of its survival”, she says.

Endorsed by the left in Calvo's time

Fermoselle recalls that the monument's protection was institutionally supported during Aina Calvo's (PSOE) term at Cort. “It was unanimously approved to preserve the Feixina, with Nanda Ramon as councilor for Culture”, she explains.

ARCA argues that the monument was “re-signified” during that period, when elements of Francoist symbology were removed from it. “During Aina Calvo's term, the symbology that could hurt feelings was removed; the argument that this work cannot be demolished remains valid”, she states. The entity completely disconnects its position from any ultra use of the monolith. “If some people of ultra ideology use it as a meeting place, they have no idea what they are doing”, assures Fermoselle. “No building or construction should be used to claim anti-democratic values and behaviors. This is the exclusive responsibility of these movements”.

The president of ARCA insists that the association condemns “any violence and values that do not fit within democracy” and also any approach that does not condemn the Civil War. Fermoselle admits that the entity's position has been the subject of strong criticism from memorialist associations, especially Memòria de Mallorca. “Our position receives constant criticism, but we are committed to historical and heritage values”, she continues.

She also acknowledges that there were reports against the conservation of the monument. “Margalida Capellà's stated that this construction goes against the principles of democratic memory. I understand and respect that”, she says. Nevertheless, she argues that the monument cannot be reduced solely to the Francoist interpretation. “It is not a monument to the [cruiser] Baleares, but to the victims of an attack, who were mostly young, very young, and not all of them were fascists”, she argues. “We must move beyond rejoicing in any death and claim all victims”.

Fermoselle assures that the public debate about the Feixina has often become excessively tense. “Any calm debate is good, but I have even had strangers approach me in an intimidating manner”, she recounts. “I can understand that a victim of Francoism experiences it with passion, but history must be above specific cases”.