MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Armed Forces support democracy

Argentine Army Commander in Chief General Ricardo Brinzoni said that a military intervention to reestablish order in the face of a social outburst can't be discarded, but it will be done in the “framework of the Constitution and the rule of the law”.

General Brinzoni said Argentina faced the risk of potential rioting and violent popular discontent, and in that scenario the Army could then move in to replace the Police and the Gendarmerie (border and highways patrolling) in some of their more institutional duties, leaving these forces with more men and resources to "reestablish order".

"I believe the President knows how he can employ the Army, to contribute in case of extreme necessity, to social peace without the need of sending tanks to the streets", indicated General Brinzoni.

Argentina is undergoing one of its direst moments in recent history and there are growing rumors of a possible military intervention in a country with a long tradition of military meddling in politics, the last of which only ended in 1983.

However the military have consistently and openly rejected any such intention.
"There's no chance of an authoritarian adventure, as some are pledging or agitating looking back into the past. I must insist in discouraging any such expectations", added General Brinzoni.

In similar terms Admiral Joaquín Stella, Commander in Chief of the Navy said that there will be no military coup in spite of the difficult situation and this because any such action "would simply mean the final destruction of the Argentine Armed Forces".

"Since democracy returned to Argentina the Armed Forces have learnt very much about democratic institutions and any adventure ignoring the Constitution would mean the destruction of the Armed Forces", underlined Admiral Stella.

The Argentine Navy is very much concerned about the current social and economic situation, "as are all Argentines, but the best way to contribute is supporting democracy", added the Admiral in an interview with one of Buenos Aires leading morning newspapers.