Four Spanish ministers have accompanied the Spanish Legion in singing El novio de la muerte (The bridegroom of death) during a Holy Week procession in Málaga, Andalusia. Legionnaires were singing the song, adopted during the Franco era, whilst carrying a wooden statue of the Cristo de la Buena Muerte (Christ of the Good Death) through the town. The Spanish Legion, originally based on the French Foreign Legion, is a rapid reaction force. One of its initial senior leaders was Francisco Franco, and the unit played an important role in the Civil War that led to his dictatorship.
The minister of defence, María Dolores de Cospedal, presided over the event, whilst interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido, education, culture and sport minister Iñigo Méndez de Vigo and justice minister Rafael Catalá waited for the procession in front of Santo Domingo church.