Ximo Puig, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, challenged Culture Minister Miquel Iceta’s plan to move artifacts from national museums this Thursday. The dispute centers on the Lady of Elche, a controversial relic that has long sparked debate over where it should be displayed, with Elche and Valencia each asserting a claim. From the Valencian side, the disagreement remains a defining cultural clash tied to regional identity and the fate of a nationally significant artifact.
Puig’s position was echoed at a recent public event hosted by INFORMATION at Casa Mediterráneo in Alicante, where he stated clearly that the transfer would not proceed unless technicians signaled that it could be done safely. About a year and a half earlier, the General Directorate of Fine Arts promised further investigations to assess the work’s condition, but there has been little new information since. The Elche mayor, Carlos González, who had expressed cautious optimism about the results a year prior, admitted he did not have concrete knowledge of what technicians might have found during the assessment.
“As long as technicians advise against the transfer of the Lady of Elche, the minister will not proceed”
Generalitat’s tweet
The Socialist leader posted a message on the Generalitat Valenciana’s official channel this Friday, revisiting a thorny topic. It is noted that he speaks from within his own party, and some view his stance as a refusal to surrender the artifact. The tweet frames the decision not as a purely technical matter but as a broader policy choice.
In the tweet, Puig references a segment from an interview with the local television station TeleElx. In that exchange, he spoke briefly, with journalist Salvador Campello reporting on the dialogue, and the accompanying text: “Has to return to Lady Elx” and “Why do all National Museums have to be in Madrid? We want part of the National Archaeological Museum to be in Elx.”
interview with @ximopuig inside @TeleElx
“Had to return to Lady Elx”
️ “Why do all National Museums have to be in Madrid? We want part of the National Archaeological Museum to be in Elx” pic.twitter.com/uvJFu4tVNp
— Generalitat (@generalitat) 13 April 2023
Puig has argued that the Lady should be housed in Elche and questioned why national museums must be centralized in Madrid. He has urged decentralization, proposing a more distributed museum network that would allow regional hubs to showcase Iberian-era pieces, including the Lady of Elche.
The Minister again cites an old report to deny the Lady’s return to Elche.
“Centralization is not smart”
The Generalitat’s leader later offered a broader critique of centralized cultural policy, advocating for broader federalism and a more distributed approach. He argued that many museum hubs should not be confined to Madrid and suggested that Elche could host a dedicated section of the Archaeological Museum to illuminate Spain’s Iberian past, including the Lady of Elche and related artifacts.
Lady’s “curse”
Before the campaign?
With elections on the horizon, Puig’s public statements might be read as part of the political landscape. No formal proposal has been announced, and there is no clear plan for a ministerial meeting on the matter. What Puig proposes is not merely a transfer idea but also the creation of a national archaeology hub in Elche, showcasing Iberian art that could justify the investment. It is noteworthy that Jaén has hosted a national museum focused on Iberian artifacts for several years, prompting questions about recognizing Elche’s claim to the Lady.
Jaén also wants the Lady
Four years ago, the former Culture Minister José Guirao visited during a tense political moment and pledged to return the artifact. After local elections, the mayor pushed for a dedicated space for a visit, but the plan did not advance, leaving the Lady in her current status.