Vivas confirms he will repeat and places Feijóo in tune with a “new Ceuta”
The president of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, confirmed this Wednesday that he will run again as a candidate for the Popular Party (PP) in the 2027 elections, and has defended that the leader of the party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is in “tune” with a “new Ceuta of the future, stable and solid.”
Vivas made these statements at the ABC Forum, held in Madrid alongside the president of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda, and once again criticized the central Government and the president of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, for their management of the migratory crisis unleashed after the massive entry of immigrants at the end of July, something that, in his opinion, “disqualifies” them from continuing in La Moncloa.
The Ceuta leader insisted that Ceuta's economic situation was “reasonably good” before that massive entry from Morocco, beyond the autonomous city's “structural conditioning factors,” and has avoided, he pointed out, making a “partisan” reflection on the future, although he did defend that Feijóo shares the reforms that, in his opinion, the territory needs.
Secure the border, reinforce security and change the economic model
Asked about the measures he considers priorities, Juan Vivas stressed that the “first” thing is to secure the border and “not subcontract it to Morocco, as it has been until now,” in addition to providing it with the necessary infrastructure and means to achieve that objective.
Secondly, he advocated strengthening the defense and security area, considering that there can be no economic development or well-being if there is no ecosystem in which basic services function satisfactorily. He also defended a new “green, blue and intelligent” economic model, a formula that, he said, Feijóo has “embodied” in his commitment to the autonomous city.
Furthermore, the Ceuta president maintained that Ceuta must update its status in the European Union from an economic point of view and “lower the cost” of communications, two issues that, in his opinion, are part of the city's structural challenges.
“The biggest national security crisis” according to the Ceuta president
As he already did during the Kings' visit to Ceuta, Juan Vivas reiterated that the massive entry of immigrants at the end of July represented the “biggest national security crisis” experienced in Spanish democracy. He also again reproached the central Government's “inaction” throughout that crisis, and estimated that approximately 15,000 immigrants still remain in Ceuta.
“I say approximately and I have to regret saying approximately because the National Government is not capable of telling us the number nor of telling us who they are, which is absolutely fundamental and words are superfluous to assess the importance of who they are,” he stated.
Regarding the relationship with Morocco, the president of Ceuta considered that the Government must convey to Rabat that Spain “is willing to use whatever means are necessary to guarantee the inviolability of the border.”
Imbroda suggests he will run again in 2027
For his part, the president of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda, has suggested that he will run again as a PP candidate for the Presidency of the autonomous city in 2027, and has defended that Spain needs a political change to solve the problems affecting Ceuta and Melilla.
“The Popular Party, both Feijóo and Tellado, want me to run,” he assured during his speech at the forum organized by ABC, while admitting that he has an “expiration date,” although he said he is still willing to get involved in the defense of Spain. “These are times when the flag of Spain must be raised strong, strong, strong, and you can count on me there,” he added.
In the same vein as Vivas, Imbroda demanded that the next general elections bring about a change of Government and considered it “essential” that Feijóo reach the Presidency of the Executive to address the difficulties of both autonomous cities, especially in migratory, economic and security matters.
Calls for Marlaska's resignation and criticizes the Executive's response
The Melilla leader has called for the resignation of the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whom he has reproached for a lack of foresight and response to the threats that, he said, Ceuta and Melilla face. “How could the Minister of Interior not have information about what was going to happen? And, if he didn't have information, what is a Minister of Interior doing without any information about the most vulnerable areas of Spain? He has to go now,” he declared.
Imbroda also assured that there were reports and defense plans to face a possible crisis, and accused the Government of not having wanted to activate them. He also criticized the shift in Spanish policy on the Western Sahara, understanding that it occurred without consensus among the main parties, and demanded explanations about “what Spain obtained in return.”
