Spanish Army launches probe into legionnaires cheering far-right activist on Madrid bus
The Ejército de Tierra has opened an inquiry into legionnaires who were filmed chanting for Vito Quiles as he shouted “¡A por los rojos!” on a bus in Madrid.
Activist Vito Quiles shared on social media a clip of legionnaires cheering his name and echoing his chant “¡A por los rojos!” as he boarded a bus in Madrid’s Plaza de Colón after the National Holiday parade. The footage, which captured the soldiers chanting and shouting slogans, prompted the Ejército de Tierra to start a formal investigation on Tuesday. Military officials explained that the Fuerzas Armadas’ disciplinary regulations classify public political demonstrations by service members as a grave offense.
Sanctions for such violations can include monetary penalties, detention of up to thirty days, or reassignment. The inquiry will determine whether a disciplinary file will be opened against the identified legionnaires, several of whom are visible in the video. The case highlights the armed forces’ emphasis on political neutrality.
Why it matters
It tests the Spanish military’s enforcement of political neutrality among its troops.
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