The Sebta Crisis and Its Impact on Spanish-Moroccan Relations

The recent crisis in Sebta has significantly tarnished Morocco's image in Spain, yet surprisingly, only 3.1% of Spaniards advocate for the suspension of diplomatic ties with Rabat. This finding emerges from a comprehensive survey conducted by Cluster17 for Agenda Pública, which took place from August 22 to 25, involving a representative sample of 1,637 individuals from the Spanish population. The maximum margin of error reported for this survey is 2.4 percentage points.

When asked about potential responses to future mass crossings through Sebta or Melilla, a mere 3.1% of respondents favored diplomatic suspension with Morocco. In contrast, a substantial 23.9% supported a direct intervention from the European Union, potentially coupled with the deployment of Frontex, while 23.6% endorsed immediate returns at the border. Additionally, 14.6% of those surveyed expressed a preference for the deployment of the Spanish military around Sebta and Melilla, whereas 12.4% supported economic sanctions against Morocco. Humanitarian reception and individual asylum request evaluations garnered 11.7% support, and negotiations with Rabat involving financial incentives convinced only 5.5% of respondents.

Political Divides in Public Opinion

The survey highlights stark variations in responses based on political affiliations. Among voters of the Socialist Party, 28.7% favored European intervention, while 23.4% preferred humanitarian reception. Conversely, among Sumar voters, humanitarian reception was the most favored option, attracting 29.7% support. On the right, 36.4% of Popular Party voters opted for immediate border returns, a sentiment shared by 40.4% of Vox voters, with 35.1% also supporting military deployment.

Despite these varying preferences, the survey indicates a deep-seated distrust toward Morocco, with 77.6% of respondents rating King Mohammed VI poorly. Additionally, 61.9% voiced opposition to the prospect of hosting the 2030 World Cup in collaboration with Morocco. These results reflect a critical Spanish public opinion regarding Rabat following the Sebta crisis, yet there remains a reluctance to sever ties completely. The political tensions and the significant economic interests Spain holds in Morocco contribute to a prevailing preference for maintaining bilateral relations over their suspension, despite the ongoing challenges.

As reported by bladi.net.