The deputies question the Defense Minister today, the issue is the “militarization” of Congress on February 9.
Before the evasions of the Minister of Defense, René Francis Merino Monroy, to the questions of the deputies of who gave him the order to enter the Blue Room with the ArmyLawyers such as Eduardo Escobar, director of Acción Ciudadana, warn that it is “implausible” for the official to deny his participation in the “militarization” of Congress on February 9.
“It is a bit implausible to believe that this device did not in any way have any opinion on the part of the Minister (Merino Monroy), obviously that is the strategy, to come to propose that everything happened within normal channels, that it was a diffuse decision, because There is no person responsible, it seems that no one was responsible and that the decision was made by itself, ”Escobar said.
> Minister of Defense refuses to comment on who ordered him to militarize the Assembly on February 9
And it is that Merino Monroy has come to tell the Assembly that her presence in the Blue Room on February 9 was only to “verify” that everything that was happening in the Assembly was within the norm, that it was not a “Military operation”, but “normal operating procedures”.
“It is unfortunate that he is not answering as asked, he would have the opportunity to dispel any remarks he may have. It is striking that, despite the Defense Minister accepting that he has control over the military apparatus, he says that he has not participated in any decision and that he has not intervened on that date, ”Escobar said.
The director of the Department of Legal Studies of the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Fusades), Javier Castro, said that “despite the evasions and lack of response, it was very clear what happened on 9F, the militarization was in evidence not only at the national level but also internationally, and it is far from reality to point out that the military presence was due to providing some kind of security ”.
Taking of the Assembly was a “fleeting” coup, experts agree
Escobar points out that the result of the interpellation may not bring consequences beyond a recommendation from the Legislative Branch to President Nayib Bukele to remove the Minister of Defense and the lack of confidence that his attitude will generate in the opposition party fractions; however, it observes that in his interpellation he revealed a position that could constitute a risk for El Salvador.
“He said it now, that every decision of the president (Bukele) is legal because he has the support of the population that elected him with their vote, it is worrying because the Minister is basing the legality of the decisions he receives from the president, not because they are protected by the law, but under the criteria that the President was elected by the majority and that is why they are legal, that leads the Minister to abide by any order, even if it is illegal, ”Escobar said.
– .
