The PP distances itself from the far-right Vox in Congress and drops its diplomatic offensive against Morocco over Ceuta and Melilla

The far-right Vox brought the Ceuta crisis to the Congress's Foreign Affairs Committee this Tuesday with a proposal that went far beyond reaffirming Spanish sovereignty over the city. Santiago Abascal's party demanded a hardening of relations with Morocco that included suspending the friendship treaty between both countries and, in certain circumstances, expelling its ambassador. The initiative has been rejected, with votes against from the PSOE, Junts, ERC, EH Bildu, and Podemos, and the abstention of the PP.

Vox had called for the vote to force other groups to declare their position on the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla amidst border tensions. Its text also included the Chafarinas Islands, the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Perejil, and the islands and Peñón de Alhucemas. But alongside that declaration was a series of diplomatic and migratory demands that steered the debate towards a rupture with Rabat.

The rejection of the proposition does not alter the Spanish sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla. What was put to a vote was a package of political measures presented by Vox. As it was a non-legislative proposal, its approval would not have legally obliged the Government to execute each of those requests.

A reaffirmation of sovereignty accompanied by diplomatic threats

Vox's document asked Congress to condemn statements by members of the Moroccan Government that questioned Spanish sovereignty over the two cities. It also demanded a public and unequivocal declaration from Rabat respecting Spain's territorial integrity. If Morocco did not offer it, the party demanded the immediate promotion of the suspension of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation.

The escalation continued with the ambassadors. Vox's ultras wanted to summon the Moroccan representative in Madrid, recall the Spanish ambassador in Rabat for consultations, and, if the situation the party describes as an "invasion" persisted, withdraw the latter and expel the former. On migratory matters, it also demanded that Morocco accept all returns, repatriations, and expulsions of its nationals agreed upon by Spain.

The text attributes to Morocco the organization of the massive entry of people into Ceuta at the end of July and presents it as an act of "hybrid warfare". That accusation is part of Vox's approach, which uses it to justify the review of commercial, police, military, and diplomatic relations between both countries. Its proposal was not limited, therefore, to responding to statements about Ceuta and Melilla.

The vote comes as Spain maintains reinforced border surveillance in the face of calls circulated to attempt a new entry this Wednesday, coinciding with the Moroccan legislative elections. The Government has defended cooperation with Rabat to prevent these attempts and manage returns, precisely the relationship that Vox wanted to subject to a treaty suspension.

The PP abstains after backing a similar proposal in Andalusia

The PP's abstention leaves the far-right Vox without the support of the popular party in this commission. Five days ago, the Andalusian Parliament approved with the votes of both parties a Vox initiative that reaffirmed Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Melilla, and the other North African enclaves. In Congress, Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party has chosen to remain outside the proposal put to a vote this Tuesday.

The plenary session of the Chamber already debated last week several demands from Vox regarding Ceuta. It then approved asking Morocco for explanations for what happened in July, but rejected the suspension of the friendship treaty demanded by the far-right. The new initiative has revived that demand and linked it to the request to withdraw ambassadors.

There is also a difference between the two parties regarding economic measures for the city. Vox was the only group that voted against the aid decree for Ceuta, endowed with 309 million euros and validated last week with the support of the PP. This Tuesday, the far-right party has once again brought its proposal for diplomatic rupture to Congress. The Foreign Affairs Committee has rejected it and the PP has abstained.