Argentona street renaming has ignited a fierce debate over historical memory and Francoist legacies in the Maresme town.

A single road currently bears two names, causing confusion for residents and delivery drivers alike.

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The Passeig de la República occupies the exact same location as the Passeig del Baró de Viver, a situation the local council now aims to resolve.

Argentona Street Renaming Reopens Historical Wounds

The controversy dates back to 2018. During the peak of the independence process, the then CUP-led council approved changing the street’s name to Passeig de la República. This decision was made without consulting residents, who were surprised but largely silent. Only two neighbours formally appealed the change, and the council never responded to their complaints.

Seven years later, the current heritage councillor, Bernat Calvo, has validated those original appeals. Consequently, he recently convened a meeting with affected residents. “It was our obligation,” Calvo stated, acknowledging his personal preference to restore the original name. The residents, who have faced administrative problems for years, largely supported the reversal.

The consultation produced a decisive result. Seventy-seven residents backed restoring Passeig del Baró de Viver, while only six defended keeping Passeig de la República. “The numbers are too overwhelming to ignore,” Calvo explained. “If the result had been close, we wouldn’t change the designation.” He insists the issue is not a rejection of the Republic itself, but rather the undemocratic manner of the initial change.

However, the core debate centres on which ‘Baró de Viver’ the street honours. Councillor Calvo argues it refers to the first baron, Darius Romeu i Torrents (1849-1905), a liberal politician and former president of the Barcelona Provincial Council. The street name was established in 1901, long before the Franco dictatorship. Therefore, Calvo maintains it has no connection to the Primo de Rivera or Franco regimes.

Opposition Groups Decry “Francoist Imposition”

The Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and the Council of the Republic strongly disagree. They plan to present a motion at the next council meeting to block the restoration. These groups argue that the Franco regime specifically reinstated names sympathetic to its ideology.

They cite a historical decree issued by Falangists when they occupied the town hall at gunpoint. The order demanded replacing street names that “glorify personalities or facts incompatible with the Glorious National Movement.” Following this, the coup plotters changed several streets, including renaming Pi i Margall street to Baró de Viver.

Albert Vila, secretary of one association, calls the proposed restoration “an imposition and a legacy of Francoism.” He argues that whether it refers to the first or second baron is irrelevant. The groups emphasise that the Barony of Viver is a monarchical title, and they view the Spanish monarchy as the continuation of the Francoist state.

Councillor Calvo has proposed a compromise. The original name would be restored to the street, but the plaque would specify it honours the first, liberal baron. Additionally, he suggests relocating the name ‘Passeig de la República’ to a more prominent location, such as the new square at the town’s entrance. “It’s not about putting the name Republic in a worthy place,” counter the activist groups, “but about Argentona not accepting a name imposed by the Falangists.” The debate, much like other contentious local issues, reveals how historical memory continues to shape present-day politics.

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