Retired soldiers demand that the Armed Forces dismiss Sánchez and call elections due to the "absence of democracy"

Retired military personnel from various bodies have prepared a manifesto in which they demand that the Armed Forces remove the president, Pedro Sánchez, and call new elections due to, in their opinion, "absence of justice, equality and democracy" in Spain.

The manifesto published on the website of the Association of Spanish Military (AME) was made public this Friday, after Sánchez took office. The signatories justify their request with article 8.1 of the Constitution which, in relation to the Armed Forces, has the mission of "defending the constitutional order", which they see in "serious danger due to the lack of judicial independence."

"We ask those responsible for the defense of the constitutional order to dismiss the President of the Government and call general elections, which we submit to the consideration of Spanish citizens in order to prevent it and to make them aware of the seriousness of the current situation. ", reads the text.

In the text, the retired soldiers, who declare themselves "concerned about the future of Spain", denounce the "harassment of the rule of law by taking over the Executive power of the majority of the judicial bodies", which "annuls the independence of the judicial power and the separation of powers".

Thus, they allude to the Constitutional Court, "partially composed of judges who have recently held relevant political positions in the Executive Branch, which nullifies its neutrality." "The excess of the functions of this court, assuming the corrective role of the rulings of the Supreme Court, a function that does not correspond to it as it is not integrated into the judicial power." They also emphasize that its president, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, "has a history that does not allow the neutrality of his actions."

Next, they speak of the State Attorney General's Office, "prone to the permanent assumption of the dictates of the Executive Branch and against its mission, which is to promote the action of Justice in defense of legality, of human rights." of the citizens and the public interest protected by law, as well as ensuring the independence of the courts and seeking the satisfaction of the social interest before them.

Likewise, retired military personnel criticize the pardons "for the criminals of the October 2017 coup d'état", the suppression of sedition and the reform of embezzlement "solely for political interests." They then move on to the amnesty agreed by the Government with the pro-independence parties, which will benefit those involved in the 'procés' since 2012, and they assure that it has no place in the Constitution.

They insist that it would eliminate equality before the law and erase the crimes of October 2017 "for the sole personal interest" of Sánchez to be invested as president of the Government. This, you see, "leaves the rule of law defenseless by annulling the sentences and procedures in force of the criminals who were the protagonists of said coup."

"The possible rupture of the unity of the nation, unique and indivisible, by accepting for the aforementioned investiture the holding of a self-determination referendum, and having accepted the name for Catalonia of 'national minority' with the privileges that it entails in International Law ", they add.

In addition, they censure "the attack on the Armed Forces, with the transfer of barracks and elimination of military parades", among other issues, and the "contempt for the State Security Corps and Forces" for the "disappearance of the Civil Guard of Navarra, the transfer of police stations in Catalonia and the continued violation of the borders by illegal immigrants, without the Government duly defending them". And, with respect to international politics, they point out "the contempt for the Cortes" for the "surprising" change of opinion on the Sahara.