The three Catalan pro-independence MEPs for the JxCat party have sent a letter to other members of the European Parliament "drawing their attention" to what they describe as "fascist infiltration" in the Spanish armed forces. The letter was signed by MEPs Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí.
Specifically, the letter recalls that on November 29th, a group of 73 high-ranking commanders of the Spanish Army reserve sent a letter to Spain's head of state, king Felipe VI, expressing their "support and loyalty" to him in what they describe as "these difficult moments for the homeland", asserting that the "social-communist"' government is supported by "terrorists and pro-independence parties". The JxCat communication recalls that "several active commanders" knew that the letter was being drafted, but "did not give it importance" and no investigation is being carried out.
The three MEPs then proceed to a second occurrence in the Spanish armed forces: on December 3rd, it was learned that forty senior Spanish officers from the Air Force reserve had formed a Whatsapp group where opinions were expressed such as the need to annihilate "26 million motherfuckers, children included". The letter recalls that the Spanish defence minister, Margarita Robles, after reporting these facts to the public prosecutor, stated that the armed forces are "completely democratic".
Avui hem enviat a tot el MEPs del PE una carta detallant els darres fets que evidencien la forta influència de l'extrema dreta dins l'exèrcit i els cossos de seguretats espanyols. A diferència d'Alemanya, a Espanya la impunitat de l'extrema dreta és total. pic.twitter.com/V9wlAT5PTQ
— Junts i Lliures per Europa (@JuntsEU) December 22, 2020
Translation:
"Today we sent a letter to all MEPs in the EP detailing the latest facts that show the strong influence of the far right within the Spanish army and security forces. Unlike Germany, in Spain the impunity of the far right is total." — Junts i Lliures per Europa (Together and Free in Europe)
Finally, the letter informs the MEPs' parliamentary colleagues that just in the last week there has been a third revelation in the same line: it emerged that a group of active Spanish soldiers organized a gathering on December 8th, 2019 in which fascist salutes were given and songs were sung in honour of the Spanish Blue Division, which they note was a military unit that fought on the Eastern front of World War II alongside the Nazi army. It concludes that only three of these soldiers have since been penalized, for a "minor disciplinary infringement".
The letter holds up these events for contrast with the decision of the German federal government's defence ministry to dismantle and restructure elite units after finding signs of far-right infiltration and that the state of North Rhine-Westphalia suspended 29 police officers for being involved in a far-right Whatsapp group.