Madrid authorities have ordered an investigation into possible anti-Semitic hate crimes committed during a march organized by a far-right collective to honor soldiers from Spain's Blue Division who fought alongside the Nazis in World War II.
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Bearing dictatorship-era flags and fascist insignia, several hundred supporters paraded through central Madrid on Saturday to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the battle of Krasny Bor, in which the division fought against Soviet forces.
Several organizers also gave speeches criticizing Jews and supporting Nazi ideology, with one of them proclaiming that "fascism is joy," according to footage from the Ruptly video agency that widely circulated on social media. The footage showed ralliers singing a fascist anthem and raising their hands in a Nazi salute.
Justice chief Enrique Lopez said he had ordered prosecutors to open an investigation to determine whether the speeches constituted a hate crime, following complaints from various human rights groups.
Spain emerged from decades of fascist dictatorship under General Francisco Franco in 1975. It has since become one of Europe's most liberal countries, but Franco's legacy is a source of division to this day, especially with the rise of the far Right in the past few years.
The leftist government said last month that far-right parties incited hate crimes, spread racial stereotypes and xenophobic attitudes to gain momentum in the political arena.
The ultranationalist, anti-immigrant Vox party became the third-largest force in parliament in late 2019.
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