Feijóo announces a plan to reactivate and shield Ceuta and Melilla and accuses the Sánchez Government of being "knocked out"

The president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has turned his visit to Melilla this Friday into an offensive against the Government's management in Ceuta and into the presentation of his commitments for the two autonomous cities. The popular leader has announced an economic and security plan that he will take to the next general elections and has directly blamed Pedro Sánchez for the situation.

“Fifty days later, the lack of control in Ceuta as an invaded city is total and Spain continues to be a nation without a Government,” he proclaimed before the Melilla PP leadership. Feijóo has described the city as a “powder keg”, has accused the Executive of being “knocked out” and has demanded the return of all people who entered irregularly during the massive crossing at the end of July.

A good part of his speech has been marked by the images of the transfer from the beaches of Benítez and El Trampolín to the temporary facility installed in the port. The operation has mobilized more than 3,000 people and has registered races, crowds and police actions during moments of greatest tension. About 240 agents participated in the operation and the new space has 1,700 places for adult men.

The Government has defended the work of the State Security Forces and Corps and has maintained that the operation concluded without serious incidents, despite the difficulties caused by the number of people trying to access limited places. Feijóo has offered a completely different reading and has stated that the agents were “overwhelmed” by lack of means and orders.

The popular leader has also hardened his message about those who remain in the city. “These gentlemen do not come to look for a job, they come to confront the constitutional public order and the State Security Forces and Corps,” he assured. The statement attributes to all migrants the conduct registered during the transfer incidents, despite the fact that thousands of people have participated in the displacement without confronting the agents.

Moncloa has described his words as “irresponsible” and has accused him of taking advantage of images of tension to fuel rejection of migrants. The Executive maintains that relocation is essential to get these people off the beaches, identify them and process their files.

Returns go through individual files

Feijóo has presented the “expulsion and return of all” as the only possible solution. The execution of these returns, however, requires identifying each person and individually studying their situation, including possible requests for international protection. Minors are also subject to specific guarantees and an assessment of their best interest.

The port camp is part of this process. The Government maintains that concentrating a part of the migrants in conditioned facilities will allow for improved care and accelerate affiliations, while conversations with Morocco continue to facilitate returns. Around 10,000 people would still remain in Ceuta, according to the latest estimates.

Feijóo has linked his proposal with the resolution approved this Thursday by the European Parliament with 339 votes in favor, 225 against and 16 abstentions. The text, promoted by the European People's Party and also supported by Renew and the far-right groups, describes what happened as an “invasion” and a “hybrid attack,” demands accountability from Morocco and calls for accelerating returns. The resolution has no binding effects and any return must respect European and international law. Socialists and the rest of the left voted against it due to the language introduced during negotiations and the inclusion of criticisms of the extraordinary regularization approved by the Spanish Government.

Feijóo has claimed the result as a political victory for his party. “We have defended Ceuta and Melilla in Brussels and thanks to that a firm and clear European voice has been heard,” he stated. Next Monday he will return to Ceuta accompanied by the president of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber.

An economic and security plan for the two cities

The opposition leader has also put forward a reactivation plan for Ceuta and Melilla which will be one of his main proposals for the upcoming general elections. The project includes a special regime law, reductions in Social Security contributions and Corporate Tax, new state investments, and measures to improve education, healthcare, and social policies.

In Melilla, Feijóo has promised to act on air connectivity and landing safety. He has also demanded that the University Hospital have the necessary professionals to use its hemodynamics room and the Da Vinci surgical robot.

The plan will be completed with a reinforcement of police and military presence, new “physical borders,” and greater European involvement. If he reaches Moncloa, Feijóo wants each Council of Ministers to include a permanent item on Ceuta and Melilla to verify compliance with the commitments made by the different departments.

His intervention included a direct message to Rabat. “I have no secrets with Morocco, I have a position,” he stated. Feijóo has promised a relationship based on respect and cooperation, although he has guaranteed that he will “never” be a president “subordinate to anything or anyone.”

The PP leader has also accused the PSOE of having made more effort to defend Greenland's belonging to Denmark than Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. “What would Mr. Sánchez need to be outraged? For Mr. Trump to invade Ceuta and Melilla?” he asked.

The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, responded via X with a direct attack on the opposition leader. “If that happened, you would thank Trump,” he wrote.