The far-right international, the Russia of Vladimir Putin and Israel are, according to Pedro Sanchezthe three most responsible for the invasion of more than 70,000 people that took place at the end of July in Ceuta.
In his public reappearance after almost a month of vacation at the official residence of La Mareta, in Lanzarote, the President of the Government absolved Morocco of the crisis that the autonomous city is going through. “He has left Mohamed in a better place than Felipe VI,” socialist critics ironically commented on Sánchez’s interview in La Ser, “no intelligence center with which the Government of Spain usually collaborates raises any doubt about the participation in one form or another by the Moroccan authorities,” he stressed.
Some words that do not convince the majority of the political class, including all the partner parties of the Executive. Not even the opposition. Borja Semperpopular spokesperson, accused the president of living in a «conspiranoia» in which the only certainty is “that Morocco has no responsibility and all the blame lies with Russia, Israel, Elon Muskhoaxes and a far-right international.
Nor does the person who was Spain’s ambassador in Rabat and head of the CNI give veracity to Sánchez’s words. For Jorge Dezcallarare directly implausible. «It is not credible that Morocco did not know that 80,000 people were approaching Ceuta while King Mohamed VI and all the country’s security were just a few kilometers away in Tetouan celebrating the Throne Festival,” he told LA RAZÓN.
For the one who was Foreign Minister between 2011 and 2016, José Manuel García-Margallothere is even more evidence. The first: “It is unthinkable that the Moroccan secret services, which are very effective, did not detect anything when those messages on social networks were met with a massive displacement and that they did not detect the arrival of tens of thousands of people in Ceuta.”
Margallo recalls that “the Moroccan secret services work in absolute coordination” with the Spanish. «Always, because it interests both of us. Because there is terrorism, because there is immigration». So, this time, the warning was intentionally avoided. To put the integrity of the territory in check, as Sánchez denounced.
The second evidence that the former minister points out: «The posture of looking the other way in the Royal Gendarmerie». Evidence of which, on the other hand, there is evidence in different images that attest to how Moroccan security agents turned a blind eye at the moment when a mob of North Africans swept across the border.
Praise for Rabat
Two arguments that dismantle the exculpation of Sánchez, who yesterday even praised the collaboration of the neighboring country in resolving the crisis. A complacent posture that irritates members of the diplomatic corps like Dezcallar: «I do not know the reasons for Sánchez’s policy of constant appeasement with Morocco. It’s something you have to ask him. I suppose it’s because he thinks he needs him to accept the return of the five thousand or so migrants who are still in Ceuta. But the continuous praise for ‘Morocco’s cooperation in immigration matters’ makes me blush. Because this is not just a migration crisis but, above all, a security, political, social, humanitarian, health crisis… It is a serious mistake by the government to pretend that the crisis is a migration one.
Margallo has another theory. In his opinion, if Sánchez denies the evidence it is to avoid recognizing an adverse situation. «If I affirmed that Morocco was responsible it would be like admitting that the Government is extremely weakwhich is isolated. That’s the issue. “It would be admitting an amendment to its foreign policy in the Maghreb.”
In his opinion, the steps that the Executive has been taking in diplomatic matters have been worse than erratic. «A real disaster. “First he fought with Morocco, then with Algeria.” Therefore, singling out the Alawite regime would be “entering very dangerous terrain.” Because, he adds, “the inaction” of our country in this crisis “has been absolute.” Starting with the lack of reflexes when the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in favor of the Algerian immigrant who swam into the autonomous city and, according to Moncloa’s official version, was the trigger for the massive entry.
Another example of Morocco’s involvement, by action or omission, is Sánchez’s words in 2021. Then, when there were ten thousand immigrants who entered Ceuta illegally, he did not hesitate to turn against Rabat. “It is not acceptable to attack or put at risk the Spanish borders as a mechanism of political pressure”were his words.