The migration crisis in Ceuta increasingly strains the relationship between the Government and its partners. The spokesperson for Compromís, Alberto Ibáñez, from the Sumar group in Congress, has directly addressed the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who, in his view, “must overcome his Stockholm syndrome with the King of Morocco.” In an interview on Cadena Ser this Monday, Sánchez stated that there is “no information” pointing to the “participation in one way or another” of the Moroccan authorities in the migration crisis. For Ibáñez, it is “not at all credible” that the president dismisses Rabat’s involvement. Furthermore, Sumar also distances itself from Sánchez’s line by demanding the transfer of migrant minors to the Peninsula.
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In a message on the social network X, Ibáñez reproached Sánchez for “accusing the reactionary international of (Donald) Trump, Israel, and Russia and excluding Morocco as if it were not part of it.” Equally harsh was the federal coordinator of Izquierda Unida, Antonio Maíllo, who stated in a video posted on his social networks that he “does not share the thesis of the President of the Government at all.” “Pedro Sánchez and the Socialist Party are making a mistake,” he said.
Along the same lines, the co-coordinator of Sumar, Verónica Martínez Barbero, accused Sánchez of “lack of empathy” with Ceuta and criticized the Government’s and the president’s position regarding Rabat’s involvement. “I think many things have been missing. Criticism of Morocco for what happened has been missing. Empathy with the Ceutan population and migrants has been missing, but above all, ways of resolution have been missing,” she said. Thus, she emphasized that it is necessary to “organize the transfer” of minors, migrants, and refugees from Ceuta to the Peninsula, and that it is there “where legal procedures should continue.”
Sánchez, however, has ruled out transferring part of the migrants who arrived in Ceuta at the end of July to the Peninsula. This has prompted a response from the Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, also from Sumar, who defended that the transfer of minors is “essential” because “Ceuta cannot manage alone.” “Girls and boys are not invaders, but rights holders, and those who have arrived in Ceuta are, moreover, victims. None caused this crisis,” she expressed during her appearance in Congress regarding the crisis.
The leader of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, has joined the other partners and called Sánchez’s explanation during the interview “not very credible.” For the leader of the Catalan party, it is “very hard to believe” that the neighboring country knew nothing about the massive border crossing. Also very critical was the Secretary of Organization of Podemos, Pablo Fernández, who accused the Government of showing “submission to Morocco,” when, in his view, it should temporarily break relations with that country. “What does this Government owe Morocco? What does Pedro Sánchez owe Morocco?” he asked during a press conference at the party headquarters.
