Spanish Defence Minister makes veiled threat over 27-S elections

Spanish Defence Minister Pedro Morenés yesterday sent out a warning to any government that may win the Catalan elections on 27-S regarding the role the military can play if there is a unilateral declaration of independence. “Everyone has to do their duty, the armed forces, governors and the governed,” the PP leader said in a national radio interview. Morenés was immediately bombarded by criticism from opposition parties, who deplored his “irresponsible” attitude in demonstrating the Spanish government's intent to generate fear among the Catalan electorate.

Insinuations about the possible mobilisation of the army had never gone beyond informal conversations until yesterday. In fact, aside from occasional nonsense from a member of the military, the Defence Ministry had attempted to remain more or less on the sidelines of the debate. That all changed yesterday, however, with the slip that the army has a constitutional role in the event that any region fails to comply with Spanish law.