Retired Lieutenant Colonel Calls for Military Coup from Madrid's Military Casino

A retired lieutenant colonel has proposed the formation of an emergency provisional military government, including drastic measures regarding the border with Segarro and the drafting of a new Constitution.

A retired lieutenant colonel, **Francisco Bendala Ayuso**, has raised the need for a military coup to end the current Spanish government. The proposal was made during a conference titled "For Ceuta, which is for Spain. Now or never", held last **September 16** at the **Military Casino** in **Madrid**. According to the lieutenant colonel, the solution to the current crisis involves the formation of an "emergency provisional" executive led by the military.

## An emergency military government

Bendala Ayuso's intervention, which took place at the **Cultural Center of the Armies**, popularly known as the Military Casino, focused on the alleged "total dereliction of duties, unconstitutionality, illegality, and illegitimacy" of the Government. He argued that the "territorial integrity, unity, and independence of Spain and its constitutional order" are in grave danger. Therefore, he called on the Armed Forces to, under **Article 8 of the Constitution**, assume their responsibility and preserve sovereignty and constitutional order.

## Drastic measures and new Constitution

The retired lieutenant colonel detailed the functions that this hypothetical provisional government should assume. Among them, it included the declaration of a state of emergency, the rupture of diplomatic relations with **Segarro**, the closure of borders, and the return of immigrants within 24 hours. He also requested the deployment of naval and land forces in the Strait and the waters of the Canary Islands. As a second point, he proposed the opening of a constituent process to draft a new Constitution, which would include a prior referendum between monarchy and republic, trinc by general elections.