The government of Pedro Sánchez is actively promoting a narrative of collaboration and concession to Morocco beyond Spain's borders, particularly following the recent shift in stance regarding the Western Sahara. This pivot is notably championed by the Socialist International (SI), an organization that Sánchez has presided over since 2022, coinciding with the uncharacteristic change in policy that has raised eyebrows among observers. The implications of this shift are becoming increasingly evident within European institutions, especially in light of the recent incidents in Ceuta on July 30 and 31, where Morocco sought to influence European Parliament members regarding the EU's stance on the border crisis. In a curious rhetorical question, the Moroccan authorities have wondered, 'What interest would Morocco have in creating a severe crisis with Spain and the EU?' The European Parliament's Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), led by Iratxe García, has put forth a resolution that mirrors the arguments presented by Sánchez's government, praising Morocco's efforts in facilitating the return of migrants while sharply criticizing Giorgia Meloni.
In a geopolitical landscape where the United States has positioned itself as Morocco's preferred ally, and certain American lawmakers have suggested that Ceuta and Melilla are Moroccan territories, Sánchez is increasingly endorsing parties that share this viewpoint within the Socialist International, sidelining the Polisario Front and the traditional leftist perspective on the Sahara. Sánchez's ascension to the presidency of the SI occurred on November 25, 2022, during a congress that also saw the appointment of Benedicta Lasi, a Ghanaian lawyer and politician, as general secretary. However, she was abruptly dismissed 15 months later, with allegations of harassment directed towards Sánchez. Notably, the congress refrained from addressing the Western Sahara issue, a significant omission given the historical precedent of passing resolutions on the matter. This trend of ignoring the Sahrawi cause has continued in subsequent meetings chaired by Sánchez, including the Global Progressive Forum held in Barcelona in April.
In a parallel development, the Moroccan Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) has gained two seats within the SI, adding to its previous representation. These new appointments include Machij el Karkri in the Ethics Committee and Aicha el Gorgi in the Equality Committee, the latter known for her vocal support of Moroccan claims over Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands. Gorgi, who has numerous photographs with Sánchez, actively campaigned among the Moroccan community in Spain during the recent elections, advocating for PSOE votes. Until recently, the Polisario Front, which governs the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria, held advisory status within the Socialist International. However, in the February 2024 meeting, they were notably uninvited, breaking from tradition.
Within the SI and various leftist formations, there are growing concerns over the shift that Sánchez has imposed, further solidified by the pro-Moroccan Sahrawis for Peace Movement (MSP), founded in 2020 and led by the defector Hach Ahmed Bericalla, who has alleged ties to Moroccan intelligence, as reported by El País. Despite the Sahrawi presence still being listed on the SI's website, both the Polisario Front and MSP are now categorized as observers. Bericalla has recently been promoting Morocco's stance on the Sahara at the UN. The MSP's entrance into the SI was particularly highlighted during a closed-door meeting in Madrid in February 2024, where Sánchez announced Lasi's unilateral termination, preventing her from defending herself. Tensions escalated outside the Ferraz headquarters, where Lasi was held back alongside members of the African Committee, a dramatic moment captured in videos shared by Artículo14. Since her dismissal, Lasi has publicly supported the Sahrawi cause, as noted by the Algerian digital reformist outlet L’Espoir Libéré. As the executive president of the African Governance Center, Lasi participated in economic promotion sessions in Algeria in September 2025, surrounded by Algerian symbols and donning a scarf representing the country. She has also expressed her support for Algeria, a key ally of the Polisario Front, which continues to advocate for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, viewing the Western Sahara conflict as an unresolved decolonization issue.
The SI meeting that saw Lasi's abrupt dismissal and welcomed the pro-Moroccan MSP occurred shortly after an unannounced visit by Sánchez to Rabat, where he reaffirmed his support for Morocco. Sánchez reportedly facilitated meetings between European social democrats and Latin American parties within the SI with Bericalla to legitimize the Spanish government's current posture in favor of Morocco, framed within a supposed realism regarding Moroccan annexationist expansion. Former Spanish Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and José Bono have attended gatherings organized by Bericalla, showing their support for Morocco since Sánchez's shift. Zapatero has even penned the foreword for a Moroccan propaganda book titled 'Moroccan Sahara: Land of Light and Future,' authored by Jean-Marie Heydt, a professor at the University of Oujda in Morocco, which aims to promote Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Bono, who has real estate interests in Morocco, saw a significant increase in his income in 2022, coinciding with Sánchez's policy shift, as reported by Vozpópuli.
The pivot in Sánchez's government policy became evident in March 2022, following the leak of the so-called Gali case in April 2021, which involved the clandestine entry of Polisario leader Brahim Gali into Spain for COVID treatment, despite pending legal issues. The then Foreign Minister, Arancha González Laya, was dismissed alongside José Luis Ábalos in July 2021 and replaced by José Manuel Albares, who has been a proponent of rapprochement with Morocco.
In another critical aspect, the extraordinary regularization of immigrants that came into effect on April 16 excluded stateless individuals, thereby leaving Sahrawis without recognition. Although the initial drafts of the Royal Decree included provisions for stateless persons at the behest of Sumar, these were removed in the final text due to a technical objection from the Council of State, which the Sahrawi community attributes to Moroccan pressures. A staggering 95% of those seeking recognition as stateless are Sahrawis. Sumar has since pledged to push for the passage of the Nationality Law for Sahrawis, which was approved on September 10 with the PSOE's vote, a move that some sources suggest is merely a gesture for national optics, as the legislation would likely have passed regardless.
Meanwhile, the Mexican PRI has expressed concerns in a letter addressed to Paulina Lampsa, president of the SI Ethics Committee, with copies sent to Pedro Sánchez, the Presidium, and member parties of the SI. The letter decries the 'corruption' and 'authoritarianism' of Sánchez, warning that the entire organization is 'subordinated to the geopolitical constraints of the Spanish government,' led by the PSOE, which, while legitimate for its purposes, stifles the free decision-making of a multilateral organization of progressive political parties committed to social democracy, human rights, and peace. The letter laments that the SI often refrains from pronouncements and resolutions that might offend the 'external interests of Pedro Sánchez's Spanish government.'
As reported by articulo14.es.
