The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid has granted approval for the exhumation of remains at Valle de Cuelgamuros. This decision follows an appeal by Patrimonio Nacional against a prior ruling that halted these crucial works under the Francoist mausoleum. The court deemed the project as essential for the identification and recovery of Civil War victims, supporting the families who have long sought justice.

This legal struggle dates back to two thousand sixteen, when the rights of the Lapeña brothers to exhume their family members were recognised. After years of litigation, including the suspension of works due to judicial appeals, recent developments have led to the reactivation of the exhumation project, which aims to unearth the remains of one hundred and twenty-eight victims.

Simultaneously, the government has announced a partnership with the Vatican to ‘resignify’ the mausoleum. High-level discussions have led to plans for transforming the site into a museum space while maintaining parts of the basilica for worship.

Minister Ángel Víctor Torres expressed optimism about the court’s ruling and reaffirmed that the exhumations would advance, highlighting the importance for families seeking closure and for the broader context of democratic memory in Spain.