Cartoons and a Brief Editorial on the Garzón Case - Spanish Press

I did not originally intend to use this blog to post about historical memory and Spain, because I have my Spanish blog to do that. However, particularly of late, the Spanish press has been full of news on Judge Baltasar Garzón, and the developing stories (plural, for the web has grown even more complicated) are important enough that that they need to be shared in English.

Pending against the judge is the primary case against him, that he "prevaricated" when he presented a report that dared to investigate the crimes of Francoism as "crimes against humanity." In addition to this initial accusation, made by the ultra-right wing group FE de las JONS (Falange Española, or the Spanish Phalangist Party), a second charge was brought against the judge in relation to funds he received for several colloquia he organized at New York University in 2005 and 2006 (NYU has denied that the judge was sponsored - or bribed - by funds from Banco Santander, and asserted that his visit was paid for through the King Juan Carlos Center, which is part of NYU).

Incredibly, last week, the Tribunal Supremo (TS, or Supreme Court) agreed to hear a third charge -- again, claiming that Garzón overstepped jurisdiction when he investigated a corruption scandal among opposition-party leaders (the case is commonly referred to as "el caso Gürtel" - for information en español, click here - for English, click here). While such ideologically-motivated charges may seem ludicrous to some, the progressive Spanish press seems to be more and more gloomy about Garzón's prospects by the day, as illustrated in the following cartoons, which I have translated for our non Spanish-speaking readers:

1. Title: "Los problemas de Garzón" (Garzón's Problems); Artist: Manel Fontdevila
Source: Público.es

Translation/Explanation:

The title reads: "Loser." In the middle of the drawing, we see Judge Garzón with a shovel on his back. The sign to the left -- probably not coincidental where the signs are planted! - reads "Francoist Graves," while the sign to the right, "Gürtel," refers to the aforementioned case. Garzón states, from left to right, "The cases were different. But the dirt dug up was the same." Fontdevila seems to assert that each issue has dug up painful truths -- one, about the Francoist past, and another, about the corruption scandal in the ranks of the Partido Popular ("Popular Party" -- currently, the opposition). Perhaps I am imagining things, but the artist also seems to be drawing parallels between the PP and the Francoist past, which should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been following the "historical memory" phenomenon in Spain in recent years. As the blogger Ignacio Escolar writes in a March 5 post, "not only is the topic of Francoism taboo in Spain, so is the PP."

2. Title: "Y ahora, Correa" ("And now, Correa" - reference to judge implicated in the corruption scandal -- currently in prison! -- who has made the second charge against Garzón ); Artist: Vergara
Source: Público.es

Translation/Explanation:

In the right-hand side of the cartoon, we see someone in a judicial robe that has just hung a "call to action" poster, calling for the public to file further charges against Judge Garzón. The poster reads: "YOUR TIME HAS COME! Francoist, Corrupt Politician, Terrorist, Drug Trafficker, Tax-Evader, South American Dictator....NOW YOU TOO CAN BRING A CASE AGAINST GARZÓN!! Last days! Great buys (offers) until removal from office! In small print - Reason: You don't even need one!"

3. Title: Untitled; Artist: El Roto
Source: El País.com

Translation/Explanation:

At the top of this cartoon, we have the likeness of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Below, one of his victims. On the "pedestal," the words, "Don't Touch." I'm not quite as sure of this depiction, but the artist is obviously referencing the idea that the Francoist past is not meant to be investigated. Franco is, even in death, still in charge.

Clearly, I am biased toward Judge Garzón. But my feelings regarding this case have far less to do with the person of Baltasar Garzón, and more to do with what this magistrate has stood for in regard to human rights in Spain and beyond. To a certain degree, Garzón has already been put on trial. And when and if he does appear in court, put on trial along with him will be the victims of the Franco regime and their families. What is happening in Spain should be deeply troubling to anyone interested in human rights. A judge that has made his career fighting human rights violations now faces having that same career put in a drawer and locked away. For some in Spain, this is exactly the intent, as the three cartoons illustrate. We are witnessing an "in progress" attempt to promote and install historical and political amnesia. Stay tuned for more on this case.