Marlaska insists that no one foresaw the entry of people into Ceuta: "It is not true"

Madrid"It is not true". With these three words, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, responded to all the deputies who, this Friday, during his appearance in Congress, referred to prior warnings about an entry of people into Ceuta – Marlaska put the figure at 72,000 – on July 30th. "Do not say that someone saw what would happen on the 30th [of July] coming, because it is not true," stated Marlaska, who began his speech by calling for calm in Ceuta and rejecting "partisan" speeches that "incite hatred".

The Ministry of the Interior has been involved this week in a controversy with the Ministry of Defence over whether there was prior information that could have foreseen the entry of tens of thousands of people into Ceuta. Marlaska stated that there was no report from the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) to this effect. A narrative, however, that triggered a tangle with the Defence Minister, Margarita Robles, who claims that the CNI warned the Spanish government delegation in Ceuta about a call for migrants to enter by swimming from Morocco. However, Robles has not detailed the precision of the warning.

During his initial intervention, Marlaska skirted around this issue until, after questions from the parties, he was forced to address it. In addition to maintaining what he had said in previous public appearances, Marlaska used different figures to dismiss the situation as not being particularly critical compared to previous years. Specifically, compared to other summers. He even said that despite the surge in entries in June and July, when the government of Ceuta had already requested a state of emergency, more people were "intercepted" by Morocco than those attempting to cross the border.

Marlaska denied wanting to "hold" the intelligence services or the CNI "responsible". "Even the EU says they were not able to conclude that something like this could happen, and they monitor everything," he said. "It cannot be said that there were reasons to think that from 300 [attempts by people to enter] it could reach 72,000 in a single day," he concluded.

In this regard, the minister has found himself alone against the rest of the political forces, defending Rabat's "collaboration" in border control and the fact that the vast majority were returned or sent back within a few hours. The ERC deputy, Francesc Marc Álvaro, was particularly harsh: "Our patience is running out. Do not speak of cooperation with Morocco. Of friendship. It is ridiculous. Grotesque," he said. So did the leader of IU, Enrique Santiago.

More border control

In any case, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who has powers in border control, has acknowledged a reinforcement of the police presence in Ceuta which is usually already four times larger than in the rest of the State, as well as at the El Tarajal border, especially after the sentence of the Supreme Court of July 8 concluding that hot returns of people arriving by swimming without overcoming a physical barrier cannot be made. For example, up to 70 civil guards and more maritime surveillance boats were incorporated, he said.

The Minister of the Interior has avoided self-criticism, which some opposition parliamentarians and also his investiture partners have criticized him for. He has acknowledged, however, that from the situation experienced in Ceuta, "necessary lessons must be drawn to prevent and face [in the future]" similar situations. In fact, the minister has anticipated that this border hardening will continue. He said that 35.5 million euros will be invested in reinforcing the border in both Ceuta and Melilla after requesting a good part of the funding (90% of the investment) from the European Union.

In the specific case of Ceuta, extraordinary measures have also been announced: the extension of the El Tarajal and Benzú breakwaters, the permanent installation of containment buoys, the construction of a permanent Temporary Centre for Foreigners' Attention, and new "technological capacities to strengthen the surveillance and protection" of the border. Nevertheless, Marlaksa has stated that it is estimated that around 5,000 people remain in Ceuta out of the 72,000 who entered between July 30 and 31.