The Spanish government maintains its stance that, to date, there is no evidence to accuse Morocco of facilitating the irregular entry of over 70,000 migrants into Ceuta on July 30 and 31. Furthermore, they have raised concerns regarding the impartiality of the National Court judge investigating whether the neighboring country orchestrated this operation, particularly pointing to her alleged connections with the Popular Party (PP). The most vocal critic of Judge María Tardón's actions has been Transport Minister Óscar Puente, who, as confirmed by Moncloa, reflects the official position of the entire government. Spokesperson Elma Saiz openly defended this viewpoint on Tuesday, asserting that Tardón has acted in accordance with her role as a jurist, highlighting the importance of judicial independence.
On Monday, Puente expressed doubts about Tardón's neutrality, citing her political background as a reason to question her objectivity based on her previous work. In 1999, she was elected as a councilor in the Madrid City Council under the banner of the Popular Party, although she ran as an independent candidate. Additionally, she served on the advisory board of the Regional Observatory Against Gender Violence during the administrations of Alberto Ruiz Gallardón and Esperanza Aguirre. The Socialists have referenced her past to challenge her effectiveness in a case that not only risks straining relations with Rabat but may also revive a political debate that the government finds challenging to navigate.
Patxi López, the parliamentary group spokesperson, criticized the timing of certain reports that surfaced just before the President's appearance in Congress, suggesting that Tardón may have deliberately leaked information to a media outlet critical of the government without any supporting evidence. "There was a report that denied information could be provided to the government, and it was conveniently leaked the day before the President's presentation in Congress," he pointed out. While Saiz refrained from direct criticism, she expressed utmost respect for the judicial system, though government sources have indicated a lack of trust in the judge.
Government's Commitment to Transparency
The government denies that its concerns stem from a fear that the investigation may reveal information implicating Morocco. Saiz defended their position, stating, "We are the first to want to clarify the facts, and that is why we have presented ourselves as an affected party." Following the Cabinet meeting, she announced the declassification of all reports from police and intelligence agencies that, according to the government, were handled between July 1 and August 1 regarding the situation at the Ceuta border.
With this declassification, which will allow public access to up to 40 documents starting Wednesday on the Moncloa website, the government aims to demonstrate two crucial points: that they never had any information that could have prevented the influx of migrants on July 30 and 31, despite Defense Minister Margarita Robles claiming that the intelligence agency had issued warnings, and that they do not possess solid evidence to accuse Rabat of instigating the crisis. In other words, their reluctance to blame King Mohammed VI is not due to fear of the Moroccan regime but rather a matter of diligence in their investigations.
Moncloa officials have asserted that nothing will be left unclassified, emphasizing that the declassified package includes everything from the police, the Civil Guard, the National Intelligence Center, and military intelligence services about the issue. They also mentioned communications between various departments. However, the opposition remains skeptical. Saiz responded, "We have nothing to hide. If there are other relevant documents that come to light, they will, of course, be shared and reported." According to government sources, nothing set to be released will compromise national security, which is why it will be made public without any restrictions for the members of the congressional committee on official matters.
As reported by elcorreo.com.
