Abascal fuels hatred against migrants over the crisis in Ceuta and links them to rapes and stabbings

The far-right Vox has taken advantage of the massive entry of people into Ceuta to launch a xenophobic offensive against migrants and the Government. Santiago Abascal has described the situation as an "invasion" and has presented those who have crossed from Morocco as "men of military age" supposedly called by Pedro Sánchez to assault the border.

The far-right leader has attributed to the president a deliberate operation to facilitate arrivals and keep him in power. Abascal has not provided any evidence to support this accusation, but has assured that migrants will end up walking the streets of Spain shouting "Viva Pedro Sánchez".

His message has gone even further by directly linking immigration and crime. "For every rape, for every stabbing and for every blow to the pockets of Spaniards to support them, there is a direct culprit," he wrote before defining Sánchez as "the head of the mafia desperately calling for more hitmen to stay in power."

Vox's official account has repeated the "invasion" narrative and has accused the Government of being responsible for the entry of "thousands of Moroccans." The party has stated that all are men of military age and has expressly denied that there are women, children, refugees or exiles among them.

Reality debunks Vox's message

The statement disseminated by Vox about the absence of women and minors is disproven by the arrivals recorded this Thursday. Among the people who surrounded the Tarajal breakwater to reach Ceuta were women and children, as well as numerous young people who crossed on foot or jumped into the sea.

The centers for children are precisely among the most saturated resources in the autonomous city. Ceuta already hosts around 700 minors, after more than a hundred reached the coast in recent hours. The Temporary Immigrant Stay Center has also exceeded its capacity and hundreds of people are waiting outside to be attended.

Abascal continued his attack after the massive entry and has called Sánchez "traitor", "corrupt" and "indecent". He has also presented him as an "enemy of the Spanish people" and has demanded his removal from the Government and that he be put on trial.

The offensive has extended to the rest of Vox's leadership. The party's spokesperson in the Ceuta Assembly, Juan Sergio Redondo, has directly accused Morocco of invading Spain and has demanded the resignations of Sánchez and the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

Jorge Buxadé, head of the Vox delegation in the European Parliament, has defined the arrivals as a "massive assault" and has again pointed to the president. "Only one responsible, Sánchez. Accomplices, many, an endless list," wrote the ultra MEP.

Interior rules out Civil Protection route

Vox's offensive comes after the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, asked the Government for "help" due to the city's overwhelmed resources. Vivas demands a coordinated state response, a single command, and the declaration of a national emergency after the arrival of some 1,500 people over the last ten days.

Interior has refused to activate the emergency of national interest through civil protection regulations. The National Civil Protection System Law contemplates natural, technological, nuclear, or radiological risks, but does not include migratory flows among the assumptions that allow recourse to this mechanism.

The Executive has assured that it is mobilizing resources and coordinating the actions of Interior, Migrations, Territorial Policy and Childhood. Pedro Sánchez maintains contacts with Vivas and with the Moroccan authorities to regain control of the border and attend to the people who have managed to enter.

Spain and Morocco have agreed to reinforce surveillance and streamline the procedures applicable to those who have crossed irregularly. Minister Grande-Marlaska will travel this Friday to Ceuta to meet with the local Government, the Government Delegation and the commanders of the National Police and the Civil Guard.