This was Sánchez’s response to the PP leader during the government oversight session in Congress, where Feijóo had asked the prime minister when he last spoke with Moroccan authorities, how many times he had done so since July 30, when the migration crisis began, and what they had told him from Morocco.
According to Feijóo, if Morocco is reiterating that it wants the irregular migrants who entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31 to return, and European law “makes this possible,” then Sánchez “either does not want to act, is incompetent, or someone here is lying.” He accused him of damaging Spain’s image.
SÁNCHEZ RESPONDS TO FEIJÓO
In his reply, the head of government reminded him that his group in the European Parliament had proposed suspending the Association Agreement with Morocco on Tuesday, and said that most of the irregular migrants who crossed the border at the end of July would be returned to that country.
Sánchez also insisted that the PP speaks of “damage,” but cited “three indisputable facts,” including that “the leading international investment fund has placed Spain in the top three and as Europe’s leading investment destination.”
Secondly, the head of government highlighted that “the leading debt-rating agencies have raised Spain’s rating as a result of the economic growth and fiscal consolidation being implemented by the Spanish government. Unlike major countries such as France, for example, whose rating has been downgraded.”
Finally, Sánchez pointed out that the Elcano Institute says that, according to European citizens, Spain is the country with the best image. “That is the reality of Spain. That is the real Spain,” he added. He also reproached Feijóo for the fact that his group in Brussels only puts “spokes in the wheels.” “That is what always happens with the PP. They did it during the pandemic, with the volcano, with the DANA, with the fires, and even with the issue of Ceuta because, in reality, your patriotism, Mr. Feijóo, is on and off; it is pure window dressing,” he concluded.
FEIJÓO: “TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CEUTA CRISIS”
For his part, the PP leader reproached him, pointing out that “to issue new nationalities, he increased the staff of consular offices by 657 people; for the mass regularization process, by 550 people, but for Ceuta, by 50 people and 20 computers.” He then asked whether this was how he intended to manage the returns.
“Stop minimizing the crisis, stop covering up those responsible, do not shift the blame onto a press adviser, and take responsibility for your own. Activate all your legal, economic and diplomatic capabilities. Put them at the service of the Spanish people. This must be resolved immediately. And stop asking for more patience because it has run out,” he concluded.
