• Defense will investigate why a group of soldiers left their weapons on the ground while they drank beers

The acting Minister of Defense , Margarita Robles, has asked this Wednesday not to criticize the behavior and work of the Legion after the controversial image of a group of legionaries drinking beers with the weapons perched on the ground, because that is a fact "punctual" that will have to study to see if they have skipped the rules of conduct.

"I am not willing to accept that the Legion can be questioned because the Legion is a body of men and women prepared and trained and what cannot be drawn is a conclusion of a possible punctual behavior to generalize," Robles insisted before leaving the act of Forbes magazine 'Summit Women' in Madrid.

Remember that the image was massively disseminated last Sunday and generated controversy from the beginning. After speculating whether the image was true or not, it was proven that it was and the Ministry of Defense itself confirmed that an investigation would be opened, because the military could have violated its code of conduct for having left the weapons on the ground while They were at the bar, and they are also prohibited from drinking alcohol while on duty.

As explained by the minister, the Army will be responsible for checking whether or not that behavior has violated its code of conduct, and if it is affirmative, the Army will also be the one that makes "the appropriate decisions" With those involved.

However, Robles has criticized that the controversy generated by this image is associated with the entire Legion, when the men and women who compose it are people who defend Spain with "professionalism, with preparation and being an example in Europe."

"It is a committed body, defending peace in the world so I ask for respect because they are putting their lives at risk to fight for peace and security and now there is a procedure to study the case, but I have to say as Minister of Defense , that the Legion is perfectly formed and prepared, so that a punctual behavior of such enhancement seems to me absolutely unfair to the Legion, "he concluded.

In its defense, AUME, the Unified Association of Spanish Military, has also demonstrated today , although more directed towards the group of legionaries. AUME says that the behaviors of these legionaries "can in no way be considered as integrated into the disciplinary types that are included in the current disciplinary regime of the Armed Forces."

"It must be remembered that the unit to which journalistic information affects, was returning from maneuvers in the north of France, after a period of intense physical and professional requirement, which is part of its function, a situation that must be taken into account. consideration when making an assessment of the concurrent circumstances, "explains the association, which is willing to even make its legal services available to those investigated.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Spain
  • Margarita Robles

Defense Ten years of defense cuts

DefenseDefense announces that the rescue of the body of the pilot who crashed in La Manga has ended

Cold drop The unprecedented deployment of the Armed Forces by DANA: "Here is work for days"