Ceuta crisis drives people onto the streets across Spain

This year things are different. Today, Wednesday, the exclave’s regional holiday, Ceuta is also at the center of attention on the Iberian Peninsula: The Association of Town Halls and Provinces (FEMP), controlled by the conservative People’s Party (PP), has called for nationwide solidarity rallies for the city’s 84,000 residents. Starts at 8 p.m. It was already clear in advance that the left-wing government in Madrid in particular would be dealt with heavily.

Because, as we now hear across party lines, this is the crisis that comes with it Rush of 80,000 people to Ceuta which was triggered at the end of July, was seriously underestimated. Thousands of arrivals, including many unaccompanied minors, are still waiting in the exclave. The authorities and residents are increasingly overwhelmed by the situation. Recently, social tensions have erupted into violence on several occasions.

Fuss about police report

There is also a lot of dissatisfaction about Morocco’s role in the crisis. Especially after a police report to an investigating judge was made public via the media on Wednesday. Accordingly, the border crossing of thousands of migrants on July 30th and 31st is said to have been controlled by Moroccan officials. They sent people across the border in several waves in order to render the authorities unable to act.

“It is obvious that the government knew about it and had information before the occupation,” the opposition leader then complained Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Premier throws his PP Pedro Sanchez – just like the right-wing Vox party – suggests failure. He was busy “saving himself and protecting Morocco,” he said during a visit to Ceuta.

In fact, Sánchez’s government has never tired of emphasizing for weeks that the kingdom, which has used migrants as political leverage against Spain in the past, is a reliable partner. People were initially taken aback by the report. Later, the director of the Spanish National Police informed the Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska However, the document “does not attribute to Morocco the planning or execution” of the stampede.

Sánchez, who has to explain himself to the House of Representatives on Thursday, had previously spoken of a targeted disinformation campaign by Russia and Israel. On Wednesday he addressed the Ceutíes via video, showing understanding for the “difficult circumstances” and the impression that the state’s response was “inadequate”. He promised to mobilize all available resources. He referred to the 309 million euro emergency aid package approved on Tuesday, from which Ceuta will “emerge stronger”.