The right finds in the crisis in Ceuta a vein to harden the anti-immigration discourse

MadridThe Spanish right and far-right – and also the European ones – have found in the Ceuta migratory crisis a vein to harden the anti-immigration discourse and consequently to push for more extreme border control. In fact, they see it as an opportunity to isolate Pedro Sánchez and his migratory policies from the rest of the EU member states, who are called to a meeting on Tuesday to address, precisely, this matter. The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, has not only celebrated the position of countries like Italy, which after the migratory crisis has imposed more controls at the border; but he has also stated that Donald Trump has "fallen short" when he talks about Spanish "far-left policies [that favor migration]". Abascal, who this Sunday has traveled for the first time to Ceuta, has demanded to "permanently militarize" the border, close it and that the army can act with "all the forcefulness that may be necessary".

The PP has also spoken along the same lines. Its leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, stated that he "shared the concern" shown by different European leaders and has placed all responsibility for what happened in Ceuta on Pedro Sánchez and on measures such as the extraordinary regularization of migrants. He also asked, without entering into a diplomatic clash, for explanations to be demanded from Morocco.

Before Vox, the ultra agitator Vito Quiles and the leader of Se Acabó la Fiesta, Alvisa Pérez, had also moved to the autonomous city. This Saturday they were evacuated by the National Police after being heckled by the city's residents, many Ceuta citizens of Moroccan origin, who pressured them to leave. Also, about twenty members of Núcleo Nacional, who had called for a demonstration, were evacuated. The Spanish government delegate in Ceuta, Miguel Ángel Pérez, has harshly criticized them this Sunday: "They are far-right groups who came [to Ceuta] with the sole objective of taking advantage of our difficulties to sow hatred, division, and fear," he denounced. But the president of Ceuta himself, Juan Vivas (PP), has censured it: "Coexistence is an unacceptable red line." The ultra platform Se Acabayó la Fiesta has called for a demonstration in Madrid for this Sunday afternoon.

Ayuso and Abascal speak of "invasion"

"We are facing an invasion," Abascal stated this Sunday, raising the tone that Feijóo used yesterday, Saturday, when he described the events as "a premeditated occupation." The leader of the Spanish far-right did not hesitate to denounce the responsibility of the Alawite country: "It is an act of war promoted by Morocco and tolerated and permitted by Pedro Sánchez," Abascal affirmed. It should be remembered that Abascal's diplomatic relationship with the kingdom of Mohammed VI has always been subject to the firm demand by Vox for Morocco to "explicitly" recognize Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. This "condition" has always marked Vox's tone and approach towards the Alawite country.

Abascal's statement against Morocco and its role in the tragedy in Ceuta has not been shared by anyone in the PP, until today. However, the president of the Community of Madrid has broken with this trend and has hinted that behind it is the hand of Morocco and the intention, in her opinion, of "who knows if in the future they will try to take [the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla]." "I fear it is a test by Morocco and it is evident that it will escalate," Ayuso stated. Meanwhile, the Spanish government maintains that behind the crisis are "mafias" that take advantage of and instrumentalize the vulnerability of many young migrants. A discourse that, for the moment, does not find many adherents in Europe.