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EU chamber urges states to ban fascist groups

The European Parliament yesterday passed a resolution in favour of banning radical far-right groups in its member states.

The motion could lead the way for the banning of the Francisco Franco Foundation, which defends the legacy of the dictator and his regime .

Passed with 355 votes in favour, 90 against, and 39 abstentions, the resolution urges EU states to take “effective” action against organisations that “glorify” Nazism and fascism.

Amendments to the resolution cited the attack by far right radicals on the Blanquerna cultural centre in Madrid, on Catalonia’s national day in 2013.

Another amendment passed refers to the Spanish parliament’s decision to remove Franco’s remains from the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum, and calls for the “withdrawal of all symbols and monuments that glorify the military uprising, the Civil War and the dictatorship.”

Those symbols of the Franco regime that cannot be removed, the amendment also says, should be provided with context and be reinterpreted to contribute to raising public awareness.

As well as calling for the banning of fascist groups, the resolution also urges the creation of ’anti-hate’ organisations within police forces to help ensure that staff do not become involved in “racist, xenophobic or discriminatory” behaviour.

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