The president of Ceuta warns the kings of Spain that the city is "a pressure cooker that can explode"

MadridThere were a few weeks, during the height of the Ceuta crisis, when the main question was: why aren't the monarchs visiting the autonomous city after the mass entry of immigrants on July 30th? The day has finally arrived: this Tuesday, just the day after Hispanic Day, Felipe VI and Letizia have set foot for the first time in the autonomous city and Melilla. It is the second time in democracy that the Spanish monarchy has set foot there, since until now only King Juan Carlos I and Sofia had visited Ceuta in 2007, exactly 19 years ago, which caused a diplomatic crisis with Morocco due to its territorial claims over the autonomous city. At first, however, the people of Ceuta received the visit with enthusiasm and already this Monday, at the reception at the Royal Palace on the occasion of October 12th, authorities from Ceuta and Melilla asked to take photos with the King.

In a speech after receiving the monarchs at the Ceuta City Hall, the president of the autonomous city, Juan Vivas, thanked them for their presence at the site to "generate confidence where it is needed most" and illuminate the "exit from the tunnel" for the people of Ceuta. And the fact is that, as he conveyed to the monarchs, Ceuta is a "pressure cooker that can explode at any moment". Vivas argued that the citizens of the Spanish enclave are living through the "most difficult" moment in their recent history after a mass entry that he said was "organized" with the "intention of putting the waterline" of Ceuta at risk, a city -he added- that is "no longer what it was".

Throughout the event, in which he symbolically handed over the keys to the city to Felipe and Letizia, he listed the "serious deterioration of security, healthcare, education and other fundamental services" for the people of Ceuta, as well as the "economic ruin" and, again referring to the tension experienced since July 30th, a "risk of breakdown of coexistence". And calling for the "return to their country of all [the migrants] who entered" Spanish territory, he called for resistance because Ceuta is "Spain to the core". All in all, Vivas thanked the monarchs for their concern about what happened and their defense of the "European character" of Ceuta's borders and the need to guarantee their security.

The visit of the monarchs has also been present at the press conference following the council of ministers. Just at the start, the executive spokesperson, Elma Saiz, referred to it. "It is a historic trip to two Spanish cities that are framed within normality," she said, in addition to remarking that there has also been a "turning point with the eviction of the Trampolín and Guano beaches" in the autonomous city. The Spanish government continues with the triage process of the immigrants who are still in the autonomous city and this Tuesday has given figures on the more than 7,000 temporary places that are enabled in Ceuta.

On the other hand, taking advantage of the occasion, the Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has also announced a direct subsidy of 45.3 million euros in order to guarantee the financial sustainability of the autonomous government and Ceuta is exempted from creating a financial stability plan if the extraordinary expenses resulting from the crisis could lead to a failure to meet the debt and deficit reduction targets dictated by Brussels.

The Spanish president has not accompanied the royals on their visit to Ceuta and Melilla, but from the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, is present, as well as tomorrow, Wednesday, and it will be Saiz herself. The trip to Ceuta was one of the issues that followed the royal family throughout the day. "I am excited," assured Felipe VI in an informal conversation with journalists. In fact, it will be the first time that the royals will spend the night in the autonomous city, something that has not happened before even in democracy.

Moroccan warships

For his part, Sánchez also confirmed at the Royal Palace this Monday that Moroccan warships entered Spanish waters at the end of July, around Ceuta. The Spanish government sent a frigate to stop the incursions. The head of the Spanish executive did not explain the reasons for this movement by Morocco, but he remarked at all times that bilateral relations with Morocco are "very important" and opted once again for good neighborliness. For this reason, he spoke of "isolated" incidents. The same has been repeated by Elma Saiz, insisting on the collaboration that took place during those days —says the executive— with the Alawite regime. "It was an isolated incident that was resolved with total normality. They were days of great tension that were resolved with collaboration," she summarized.

The objective of the visit by the Spanish monarchy is to express support for the people of Ceuta, who have been living in an exceptional situation since July 30th. At the time, Felipe VI described the events as an "unacceptable violation" of a European and Spanish border and, in the context of Emmanuel Macron's visit, the King asked the European Union to also take responsibility for the situation.

However, the big question is whether this visit will cause a new crisis with Morocco, taking into account the precedents. Recently, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI referred for the first time to the crisis of July 30th without mentioning the visit of the monarchs. He asserted that in Spain there have been "irresponsible statements" regarding the migration problem and warned that he would not accept "pressures or blackmail".

The agenda

The King and Queen left Madrid early this Tuesday and arrived around 12:30 p.m. at the Ceuta City Hall, where they were received by citizens, local authorities, and with the intention of holding work meetings. Afterwards, they will participate in a tribute to those who died at sea on July 30th, specifically at the Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery, where the immigrants who tried to cross the border and died in the attempt are buried. It will not be until seven in the evening that the King will address a few words publicly following the visit. On Wednesday, the royal family will travel to Melilla.