The event, symbolizing loyalty to Spain, gathered 2,188 students who swore allegiance, including 846 women, with an average age of 28. Many of them, with university education, culminated years of effort and dedication to join the force.
The controversy arose when the Minister of the Interior referred to the death of two civil guards in the line of duty, which led to whistles and shouts of disapproval from a section of the audience. The organizers had to intervene via public address system to call for respect for the institutions and the trainees.
“"I understand, I comprehend, your pain, your rage, nothing, nothing can compensate for the death in the line of duty of Germán and Jerónimo."
The minister reiterated his condolences to the families of the deceased agents and described the fight against drug trafficking as a priority for the Government of Spain, expressing his pain and anger over what happened in Huelva.
This 131st promotion is significantly larger than the previous one, with 390 more civil guards. Of the 2,882 selected candidates, 696 came from the Armed Forces and had already taken their oath previously.
