“The Government of Spain has taken up the proposal of the City of Eibar to declare the city as a Place of Memory. A city that is worthy of being so due to two fundamental events: being the first city in Spain to proclaim the Second Republic on April 14, 1931 and the tragic bombings that unleashed the aviation of the rebelled army against the Republic and its international allies during the month of April 1937 in the Spanish War,” said Fernando Martínez.
The confirmation ceremony was also attended by the Government delegate in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia; the Basque Government’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Maria Jesús San José; and the Mayor of Eibar, Jon Iraola; together with municipal representatives and citizens.
The councilor for Justice and Human Rights, María Jesús San José, has claimed the historical commitment of Basque socialism to freedom, citizenship and coexistence, proudly reminding the Eibar councilors that in 1931 they proclaimed their adherence to a free and democratically elected republic.
Unzaga Square has historically been the political and social heart of the city. Its current layout was consolidated at the end of the 19th century and, since then, has hosted demonstrations, public events, popular celebrations and moments of special political importance. One of the most emblematic events that are remembered in this space took place in the early morning of April 14, 1931, when Eibar became the first town in the country to proclaim the Second Republic, from the balconies of the Consistorial House, located in the square itself. This symbolic gesture reflected the commitment of Ibiza’s citizens to republican ideals, freedom and social justice. During the Civil War, the square was also the scene of confrontations, bombings and moments of great tension, due to its strategic and symbolic value. In the years that followed, it continued to be a place of encounter, memory and vindication.
The mayor of Eibar, Jon Iraola, stressed that “today’s recognition is an important step in the preservation of our collective memory.” He also pointed out that “we are especially pleased that Eibar’s role in the democratic history of the country has been valued. It is a deserved recognition for the city and for all the people who have defended democratic values over time.”