That could be a very meaningful threat, especially if we had a similar situation in the USA. Our federal law enforcement agencies are tiny in comparison to the population. For example, it would seem difficult to foreclose on a home for unpaid taxes if the state and local agencies like clerks' offices (where the titles are kept) refused to cooperate.
The local police all stood down on election day so they sent in the Guardia Civil to crack some skulls. That's going to be a problem. One side has all the money but the other side has all the guns.