“It will be difficult to restore normality in Ceuta,” they acknowledge at Moncloa after the crisis triggered in the autonomous city by the influx of more than 70,000 immigrants on July 30 and 31, despite the fact that many returned to Morocco in the following days. Pedro Sánchez expressed confidence on Monday in “having the situation stabilized by the end of the year,” since the unified command to resolve this crisis, assumed by the Canarian minister Ángel Víctor Torres, was decreed until December 31. And the Government does not want to downplay the situation, but they emphasize that just as this temporary deadline can be extended, it can also be shortened. “Our goal is to shorten the deadlines,” they stress at Moncloa, to complete the reception or return procedures for the immigrants. “Each week we are a little faster,” they defend.
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The Government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, stated this Tuesday, at the end of the Government’s follow-up meeting on the situation in Ceuta and the subsequent Council of Ministers – both chaired by Pedro Sánchez – that the state of interest decreed for the autonomous city is currently extended until December. “But we are working to restore normality as soon as possible,” she expressed confidence.
And the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, also assured that the Government will do everything it can to “shorten the deadlines.” But he acknowledged that, as of today, although the figures are only approximate, “between 700 and 1,000 minors may remain on the streets” of Ceuta. According to the figures he presented, another 2,084 minors have already been registered and are under the care of the local administration. The minister did not provide estimates, however, on the number of adult immigrants still sleeping rough in the autonomous city. At Moncloa, they pointed out that the first step to manage the situation is “to relocate all the migrants who are on the street,” which they consider essential to avoid problems in security and coexistence.
The Government has also once again reproached the opposition strategy of the Popular Party and the far-right Vox regarding the migratory and humanitarian crisis in Ceuta. Elma Saiz has called for “rigor, responsibility, and prudence” from the right-wing leaders in their statements. “Conspiracy theories are extremely irresponsible and do not help Ceuta in any way,” warned the Government spokesperson.
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And they framed in this “carousel of irresponsible statements” the fact that the PP leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has promised a legislative reform to strip Spanish nationality from immigrants who commit serious crimes, if he manages to reach Moncloa. “Feijóo and Abascal are writing their electoral program hand in hand,” criticized Elma Saiz.
The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, described this announcement as “absurd,” and warned that the PP leader “does not believe the polls” that every day predict that with Vox he will obtain an absolute majority of more than 200 deputies in the next legislature. Puente pointed out that Feijóo must be “desperate” to make announcements that, in his opinion, are “so ridiculous.” At Moncloa, they doubt that the initiative proposed by Feijóo is even constitutional.
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