The National Police sees no signs of risk in the National Core concentration in Palma

PalmThe report from the National Police issued in relation to the Nucleo Nacional concentration concludes that the call by the ultra group in La Feixina in Palma to defend the Francoist monolith does not pose a "risk" to public order and safety. This has been confirmed to el ARA Balears by sources from the same Spanish government delegation and the Palma City Council, who have refrained from commenting on the police report. It is unknown if there has been any exchange of opinions between the local and state administrations on the matter, as the Palma City Council could disallow the cession of the public space where the call is to take place, if the police report were unfavorable.

In this regard, the Spanish government delegation supports this Sunday's concentration at 10 am in Palma based on the fact that a meeting cannot be prohibited for ideological reasons and that they cannot "prejudge" before it happens. "We can assume that the Democratic Memory Law is breached or that hate crimes are committed, but we cannot act if it has not happened," they point out. Despite everything, they assure that the agents will be "attentive" to ensure that there is no action contrary to the law. "The State must guarantee the right to freedom of expression, whatever the origin of the demonstration," state delegation sources point out. "However, if crimes are committed subsequently, action can be taken," they specify.

It should be noted that the far-right group has only recently been formed in Mallorca and, therefore, there have not yet been any actions that involve direct confrontation against other vulnerable people or groups, as has occurred in Catalonia or Madrid. In fact, last Sunday the Mossos arrested a woman in Roquetas as the alleged perpetrator of hate crimes, discrimination, and damage, belonging to the ultra group. During the agents' search of the detainee's home, the agents found stickers, balaclavas, flags, and other objects with fascist symbolism. It is noteworthy that one of them was precisely from Núcleo Nacional in the Balearic Islands.

In Madrid, a few weeks ago, five members of Núcleo Nacional were arrested in the Madrid neighborhood of Lavapiés armed with knives as they were heading to a square where there were dozens of migrants and homeless people. Also recently, 10 members of this group were arrested for trying to boycott the 8-M demonstration, also in Madrid, among other actions. Likewise, they have committed some violent actions against heritage, such as graffiti against the bust of Aurora Picornell and graffiti of their symbol on various rocks on the Fonts Ufanes estate.

Núcleo Nacional is a far-right collective with ultranationalist and neo-Nazi ideology that maintains a discourse against immigration, feminism, and the LGTBI movement, and which advocates for positions linked to the most radical Spanish nationalism. The group has on several occasions disseminated proclamations against the “demographic substitution”, xenophobic messages, and ultra-level slogans such as 'defend Europe' and 'reclaim Spain', in addition to exhibiting symbology and aesthetics associated with European neo-Nazi and identitarian movements.

Anti-fascist rally

Faced with these events, the Antifascist Coordinator of Mallorca has called a protest this Sunday in front of the Consolat de Mar, at 10:00 AM, in rejection of the far-right demonstration planned for 10:00 AM at La Feixina.

In a statement, the Antifascist Coordinator explained that the mobilization responds to the “institutional permissiveness towards a demonstration of a neo-Nazi nature”. According to the organization, there is growing concern about the “normalization of fascism” and “the impunity with which they act and parade through our streets”. The platform has assured that the protest aims to “protect the memory and dignity of the people” and has warned that it will not tolerate “a single step back” in the face of this type of call. In this regard, the Antifascist Coordinator has stated that it takes as a reference the mobilizations recently promoted in other cities such as Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona against acts linked to far-right groups.

The entity has also called for the participation of “all people who feel challenged by the values of antifascism” to demonstrate, as they have stated, “that we are more than them, that we are not willing to give up an inch, and that we will confront them every time it is necessary”. MÉS per Mallorca and ARCA have also positioned themselves against the demonstration. The Association for the Revitalization of Old Town Centers (ARCA) has called on the government delegation not to allow the Núcleo Nacional rally in Palma's La Feixina park, as it considers that the far-right group “goes against universal rights and seeks citizen confrontation”.

ARCA, concerned after defending the monolith

In a statement, ARCA has expressed its “indignation” at the fact that this group presents itself as a defender of the Feixina monument, despite the association reiterating that its defense of the monolith responds exclusively to its “cultural, historical, and architectural values”. According to the entity, Núcleo Nacional “seeks prominence” and intends “to glorify its destructive ideology”, in addition to even putting “the monument in danger”.

The heritage association has recalled that the re-signification of the monument agreed upon in 2010 was the result of political consensus and that the monolith has “demonstrated architectural, historical, and social values”. Likewise, it has highlighted various court rulings in favor of maintaining the monument and has defended that “it does not contravene democratic memory in any way”. For its part, MÉS per Mallorca also requested last week from the government delegation that the concentration of Núcleo Nacional in La Feixina be prohibited because, according to the party, it will mean an “enhancement of fascism” and “ridicule the victims” of the cruiser Baleares.

The deputy of Sumar MÉS, Vicenç Vidal, warned that Núcleo Nacional is a “nucleus of fascists” who have been responsible for “vandalic and violent acts throughout the State” and demanded that the Administration prevent the act from taking place “in respect for democratic values and the victims of the ship Baleares”. Despite these requests, the event has finally received institutional approval after the National Police found no indications of risk to public order or sufficient elements to justify its prohibition.