Supreme court supports decision to change Madrid street names linked to fascists

MADRID, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Supreme Court on Monday supported the decision taken by the Madrid Town Hall to change the name of 52 streets, squares and public spaces in the city with names of people related to the dictatorship of General Franco, who ruled Spain between 1939 and 1975, local media reported.

The decision to change the names of streets named after fascist generals and military figures has long been one of the policies of the Mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena. However, the changes were halted on Oct. 24 2017 after an appeal by the Francisco Franco Foundation, an organization which defends the memory of the fascist dictator.

"This is excellent news and it allows us to progress... of course we are going to change the street names," commented Carmena in local media.

The decision taken by the Supreme Court on Monday said that changing the names "did not prejudice anyone" as the Foundation had alleged. Enditem