The Popular Party has placed Felipe VI at the center of its offensive against Pedro Sánchez this Tuesday over the management of the Ceuta crisis. The PP spokesperson in Congress, Ester Muñoz, has accused the Prime Minister of being "stung" with the monarch, harboring "certain complexes," and using the Head of State to divert attention from his own responsibilities.
"He doesn't care about using the King as just another squirrel," Muñoz stated during a press conference in the Lower House. According to the popular leader, Sánchez resorts to any issue that allows him to avoid explanations about the massive entry of migrants on July 30, the information available before the crisis, and Morocco's actions.
The controversy stems from statements Sánchez made on Monday on 'Hoy por Hoy' on 'Cadena SER'. The president assured that there are "sufficient arguments and reasons" for Felipe VI to visit Ceuta and Melilla and confirmed that the trip will take place "when conditions are met." During his response, he mistakenly attributed 20 years of reign to the monarch, although Felipe VI was proclaimed in June 2014 and has been head of state for twelve years.
The government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, rejected this Tuesday that those words contained a reproach to the Royal Household. Saiz defended that Sánchez merely "stated a reality," described the relations between Moncloa and Zarzuela as "good and fluid," and reiterated that the visit will take place, although it still lacks a date.
Paiporta and Morocco escalate the pulse over Felipe VI
Ester Muñoz linked Sánchez's statements to the visit that the King and Queen, the Prime Minister, and the Valencian president, Carlos Mazón, made to Paiporta after the October 2024 DANA. "Those images of Paiporta, where the King stayed and he left, still sting him," she assured. Sánchez then abandoned the tour after the serious incidents recorded and at the indication of his security detail, while Felipe VI and Queen Letizia remained speaking with the residents.
The popular leader believes that the president tried to blame the monarch for his absence in Ceuta despite knowing that the King's institutional agenda is coordinated with the Government. The Constitution also establishes that Felipe VI's acts must be endorsed by the President of the Executive or by the competent minister, who assume political responsibility for those decisions.
Muñoz has defended that the Head of State must travel to the autonomous city "without any fear of any reaction" and has asked to stop "mishandling" his figure. "The King represents everything that Pedro Sánchez is not and will never be," she proclaimed before accusing the president of being more concerned with "not offending the king of Morocco than with offending the king of Spain."
The visit has an important diplomatic load. Felipe VI has never officially visited Ceuta as Head of State and the last trip by a monarch occurred in 2007, when Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía visited Ceuta and Melilla during José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's government. Morocco then called its ambassador for consultations and described the trip as "regrettable."
Other PP leaders reinforced the same message this Tuesday. The party's general secretary, Miguel Tellado, stated on Telecinco's 'El Programa de Ana Rosa' that there is a strategy to "attack the Head of State" and affirmed that Sánchez, "if he has to choose, is with Mohamed VI and not with Felipe VI." The national popular spokesperson, Borja Sémper, maintained on 'Las mañanas de RNE' that a president had never been seen referring to the Head of State "in these terms."
Protests and Congress prolong the clash over Ceuta
The national leadership of the PP has also called for participation in the rallies called this Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in front of city halls by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), chaired by the popular mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayo. The events will coincide with Ceuta Day.
The PSOE has decided to distance itself, considering that the call responds to a partisan use of the crisis. Some socialist officials from Ceuta and several mayors have announced, however, that they will attend. Ester Muñoz has described Ferraz's position as "regrettable" and has insisted that the mobilizations aim to express the support of all Spain for the people of Ceuta.
The parliamentary spokesperson has at the same time ruled out the request of the far-right Vox for the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, to break his agreements with the socialists in the city. "Ceuta is not at this moment for political maneuvers," Muñoz responded, defending the unity maintained by the groups of the Ceuta Assembly in the face of security and public order problems.
The PP will transfer a good part of these accusations to the extraordinary Plenary Session on Thursday. Muñoz will demand that Sánchez clarify what information the intelligence services received, what collaboration Morocco is providing, and what measures will prevent a massive entry from happening again. The popular party also advocates for the permanent reinforcement of immigration teams, the participation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the processing of its reform of the Immigration Law.
Sémper has defended the return of migrants who lack international protection and has included minors when family reunification is possible. Legislation allows for such repatriations, although it requires an individual file, listening to the minor, proving that the return is in their best interest, and verifying that they will be safely received by their family or by the protection services of the country of origin.
The PP's pressure comes on the same day that the Executive has estimated the total set of measures mobilized for Ceuta at 309 million euros. The plan includes 118 million for humanitarian reception and care for minors, more than 90 million for security, around 80 million in aid to businesses and workers, and another 21 million for essential services.
Sánchez must respond this Thursday before Congress, where Ester Muñoz will demand that he explain "who has attacked Spain" and why the Government defends Morocco's collaboration while the PP keeps the neighboring country at the center of its suspicions.
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