The legal team from Vosseler Abogados has met with members of the board of directors of the Association of Victims of the Confiscation by the Francoist Government (APIGF ) to analyze the current status of the processing of the files and coordinate the next legal and political actions.
The APIGF, with the legal support of Vosseler Abogados, tirelessly urges the Public Administration to accelerate the valuation and fair compensation of the old pesetas and assets confiscated during the dictatorship.
1. The legal framework: The right to recognition and compensation
To understand the scope of these actions, it is essential to refer to Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory . This legislation constitutes the legal foundation for the claims, as it explicitly recognizes as a victim any person who has suffered physical, moral, psychological, or financial damages as a consequence of the actions or omissions of the war and the dictatorship.
Under this legal protection, the cases managed by Vosseler Abogados seek to restore the patrimonial dignity of hundreds of families whose assets and paper money were legitimately issued and subsequently seized by the Francoist authorities.
2. Current technical status: Government audit and inventory
In the context of the institutional pressure exerted, the lawyers of Vosseler Abogados held a strategic meeting with the deputy of Junts per Catalunya, Mr. Josep Maria Cervera Pinart, who assumed the firm commitment to politically promote compliance with the Law.
Following the formal questions posed by the deputy , the Executive offered an official response on April 10, 2026 , detailing the steps being taken by the central administration:
- Commitment to inventoryThe Government has confirmed that a laborious technical audit is being carried out regarding the files of seizure of assets and banknotes.
- Current phase of the workThis audit will include a comprehensive inventory of all seized assets and rights. According to the Executive branch, this technical phase is still underway due to its high complexity.
- Implementation of compensationThe Government has specified that, once these technical and inventory works are completed, the specific ways of recognition and economic compensation to those affected can be implemented, in strict accordance with the provisions of the law.
3. Incident management: errors detected in the processing
Despite the guidelines of the Law, the processing by the Ministry presents operational difficulties. During the follow-up meeting, the legal services of Vosseler Abogados reported the detection of two main anomalies in the resolutions and certificates issued to date:
- Material and formal errors: Errors have been detected by the Government in the processing of certain files, specifically in the recognition certificates (such as errors in the identification of applicants, inaccuracies in the amounts reflected, among others).
- Incomplete certifications: It has been observed that, in those cases where an associate presented several seizure titles, the Ministry has issued the certificate for only some of them, improperly omitting the remaining titles.
Immediate action by Vosseler Abogados
Given this situation, our firm is immediately submitting individual corrective action requests to the Ministry for each of the identified defects. Although we have been informed that the Administration has limited resources to resolve these issues, our technical team will closely monitor the process to ensure that every error is fully rectified.
We also want to reassure all APIGF members: the administration department at Vosseler Abogados promptly receives all emails and inquiries from members. All of them are being managed, analyzed, and addressed thoroughly, although individual responses may take some time due to the large volume of documentation required for each case.
4. Continuity of political and institutional pressure
The legal work doesn't stop in the offices. In order to maintain constant political pressure and prevent the proceedings from stalling, the APIGF Board of Directors reported that it continues to insist on the effective implementation of Law 20/2022. To this end, a formal institutional meeting has been requested with the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, Mr. Fernando Martínez López . They are currently awaiting confirmation of the final date for this meeting.
At Vosseler Abogados, we are fully aware of the historical and familial significance of these claims. We will continue working diligently to defend your rights and will issue a new official statement as soon as there are any significant developments.
Vosseler Abogados and the APIGF meet with President Carles Puigdemont
