Whilst Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, might be treading a very diplomatic path concerning Morocco, the feisty Defence Minister, Margarita Robles is not taking what happened quietly.
Most of her fellow cabinet members exonerated Morocco of any responsibility for the arrival of more than 50,000 migrants many of whom swam to shore in Ceuta, it was she who first pointed the accusative finger at Morocco, demanding an investigation into who was behind the “humanitarian tragedy.”
In fact, she is demanding accountability for the deaths of nearly a hundred people who drowned trying to get around the border fence.
“Minors cannot be used the way that they have been, nor can people simply be cast to their deaths as a result of social media,” she said, adding, “Whoever was behind this; the mafias, or whoever condoned or tolerated it, will have to assume responsibility.”
The question is whether she was going against the PM or had instructions from him to make these comments, which he could disassociate himself from.
She made these comments in a speech at the Spanish Air Force station in Zaragoza, demanding that Spain’s southern neighbour investigate “to the very end” how a wave of migrants crossing from Moroccan border and swimming to Ceuta was possible,
Her stance is very different to that of the Minister of the Interior who claimed that he had received no warning of a possible action from Spain’s intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), the Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS), or from the intelligence services belonging to the Policía Nacional and the Civil Guard.
“You won’t catch me in any kind of argument regarding their role,” Margarita Robles said, stating that the intelligence agencies did an “exceptional” job.
So, with PM Sánchez trying to calm the waters with Morocco, her comments has opened a rift between the Defence and Interior Ministries, as their positions are certainly opposed.
The fact is that Minister Robles pretty much mirrors the stance taken by the EU, after 22 members states, headed by Denmark and Italy, said that the EU should revised its relations with Morocco.
(News: Ceuta/Spain)
Keywords: Defence Minister Breaks Ranks, Morocco, Mafias, Responisbilites, Investigation, EU
news, spain, ceuta, defence minister breaks ranks, morocco, mafias, responisbilites, investigation, eu
When this first happened. On the news clip. It looked like a police traffic chap. With the white arm bands, was herding them off. As if they were troops getting out of trucks. As I have said before. If you want to lower the number of ex prisoners , just let them get into Spanish territory. So really the issue is with the Moroccan authorities. Apparently apart from getting rid of many of the countries lower social types. They are angry with Spain for having a deal or trying to , with Algeria. So get rid of the chaff and punish the kafir. Perhaps keep the Doctors and Engineers especially the water sewerage experts.
Come on Spain or the government. Get some backbone. Otherwise you will be invaded even quicker than the past.