Vivas will take before the judge investigating the migratory crisis in Ceuta his calls to the Government before the massive entry: "There are unfulfilled commitments that have no explanation"

The president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, is preparing his appearance before the Audiencia Nacional with the intention of presenting the communications that, he maintains, he sent to the central government during the days prior to the massive entry of migrants on July 30 and 31. Judge María Tardón has summoned him as a witness for next September 30 as part of the investigation that seeks to clarify the circumstances of those events.

Vivas explained that he will hand over to the magistrate all calls and warnings made before the massive arrival. According to his account, the pressure on the city was already especially high: in just one week, around 1,500 people had arrived by swimming and the number of minors had increased from 180 to 800. The president of Ceuta also maintains that he requested a reinforcement of security forces and the implementation of a single command, and states that he was even considered "annoying" for insisting on his warnings.

The appearance will take place while the Audiencia Nacional continues to gather information on the alerts and risk analyses issued before the entry. The magistrate has also requested documentation from police and military organizations and has summoned as witnesses the former chief of staff of the Government Delegation, Gonzalo Sanz, and the head of the Local Police of Ceuta.

The president of Ceuta has also responded to criticism received from the central Executive, after Pedro Sánchez and the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, questioned his attitude during the crisis. Vivas maintains that he has not changed his position and that the difference with respect to the situation in 2021 lies in the actions of the Government of Spain.

Likewise, Vivas has pointed to Morocco as responsible for the mobilization, considering that the authorities of the neighboring country must have known about the displacement towards Ceuta of more than 100,000 people. This statement is part of his position on what happened and it will be the judicial investigation that determines the corresponding circumstances and responsibilities.

The president of Ceuta has also assured that he is not worried about receiving criticism as long as the Government acts to restore normality in the city. Against those who maintain that his position has changed, he insists that the modification has occurred in the Executive's response compared to 2021.

Criticism of crisis management and Morocco's response

Vivas has questioned that some of the measures announced after the 2021 crisis have not materialized, among them a security plan for Ceuta and actions in El Tarajal. In this context, he has stated that there are "There are unfulfilled commitments that have no explanation."

He has also rejected that the permanence of thousands of migrants in the city can become a normalized situation. In reference to statements by the President of the Government, he has defended that "they cannot pretend that normality is for them to stay here."

Regarding Óscar Puente's criticisms, Vivas has insisted that his priority is for the Executive to adopt measures to restore normality and has demanded that "it work hard to return to Morocco" those who arrived. According to him, none would have returned so far, except for people who have committed crimes.

The president of Ceuta has also described the current situation as a "pressure cooker that can explode," while demanding a change in the coming weeks.

Vivas ironizes about "subjective insecurity"

Asked about the two soldiers who had to be transferred to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid after being injured, Vivas has linked the episode to the controversy over security in the city and the statements of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

In an ironic tone, he has raised whether these events would be part of the so-called "subjective insecurity": "I don't know if Puente shares that criterion or if I am the one who participates in hitting the soldiers", he pointed out.

Vivas has also taken the opportunity to acknowledge the work of the military, the State Security Forces and Corps and the health workers, to whom he attributes a large part of the city's sustenance during the crisis.

Finally, he referred to the gate installed by Morocco on the border fence and assured that no one has contacted him to communicate this action. "I don't want to think that it is part of the exemplary and intelligent collaboration on the part of Morocco because we already know where this collaboration leads us," he concluded.