In a recent interview, Ione Belarra, the Secretary General of Podemos, expressed her discontent with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's comments, stating that he treated the public as if they were foolish. This critique follows Sánchez's interview with Cadena Ser, where he again dismissed any potential involvement of Morocco in the ongoing humanitarian and migration crisis in Ceuta. Belarra asserted that it is well-known who has expansionist interests in Ceuta and Melilla, and she urged the Prime Minister to utilize his upcoming appearance in Congress to demonstrate transparency regarding the situation. She posed a direct question to Sánchez, asking why he continues to protect Morocco, insinuating that there may be underlying threats influencing his stance.
Belarra also questioned the rationale behind maintaining bilateral relations with Morocco, a nation she described as a dictatorship that does not uphold human rights. She criticized the European Union's border externalization policies, highlighting that Morocco has received over a billion euros from the EU in recent years to manage migration control while simultaneously violating human rights on behalf of Europe. According to her, the silence and absolution of Morocco only serve to politically benefit the right-wing coalition of PP and Vox, emphasizing the need for honesty and clarity about the current issues.
On the management of the crisis itself, Belarra accused the government of employing a calculated inaction strategy that involves mistreating migrants currently in Ceuta to deter further entries. She claimed that if Pedro Sánchez truly wanted to resolve the humanitarian crisis, he could do so within 24 to 48 hours by deploying emergency assistance teams or beginning the relocation of migrants to the mainland, thus ensuring that individual cases are handled with care and legal guarantees.
Reflecting on the planned protests across Spain organized by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces in solidarity with Ceuta, Belarra criticized these actions for potentially fueling racist and xenophobic narratives against migrants. She argued that Spain is a nation that should welcome all individuals seeking refuge, providing them with basic necessities and treating them with dignity. Consequently, Podemos is advocating for its supporters to participate in an anti-racist counter-demonstration scheduled for the same day in Madrid. Belarra concluded by stating that the government's inaction in Ceuta only serves to exacerbate the spread of racism and that decent people must raise their voices against it.
As reported by publico.es.
