Following a complaint made by the Socialist Party, the Spanish far-right Vox party has removed the controversial banner.
ADVERTISEMENTSpain's far-right Vox party has taken down a sign showing symbols representing feminism, communism, the LGBTQ+ community, the squatters movement and the Catalan independence flag being thrown away as if they were rubbish.
Since 17 June, the large banner had hung from the exterior of a building in the centre of Madrid as a way of kicking off Vox's electoral campaign for the upcoming general elections, which will be held at the end of July.
The slogan 'Decide what matters', written in the centre of the banner, hung above the passers-by walking down Alcalá street and it pointed out every single thing that goes against the party’s ideology.
Following a complaint made by the Socialist Party, the Electoral Board of Madrid decided on Tuesday that Vox had 24 hours to withdraw it as it “calls for votes outside the electoral campaign”. Vox did so later in the day.
In Spain, the electoral campaign begins 16 days before the elections, which means that political parties are not allowed to start before the 7th of July.
According to the arbitration body, which upheld the complaints, the installation of the banner "is not justified" within the ordinary activities of the party and it considers that the slogan 'Decide what matters' has the "intention of persuading" Spaniards to support Vox.
In their statement, they decided not to rule on the possible illegality of the actual content shown in the banner.
They believe their only competence is to judge acts in accordance with electoral regulations.
‘Threatening the LGTBQ+ community’
Despite the decision, civil society organisations are not happy.
"We will not allow the far-right party to continue threatening the LGBTQ+ community," said Uge Sangil, president of the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, Bisexuals, Intersexuals and more.
"Sadly, it can help other even more inflammatory speeches and hate crimes to become a reality", pointed out the Interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The banner had a message that many have assumed as being directly aimed at the Socialists.
On the left, against a red background, there was a description of the parties which lie on that side of the political spectrum. Pedestrians could read: "Imposition, insecurity, division, poverty, abandonment and invasion".
While, to the right of the poster, the words "freedom, security, family, industry, countryside and borders" were written. This is in line with the far right party's election programme.
Other members of the Socialist Party claimed on social media: "The banner of hate, discrimination and shame is an attack on our rights and our model of coexistence".