The Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra, yesterday sent a letter to her counterparts from the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to investigate the actions of the Moroccan authorities, with a balance of 27 fatalities, in the assault on the Melilla fence last Friday. The leader of Podemos asks for “transparency” and that all the recordings of the cameras in the Spanish zone and the communications be kept to clarify the situation.
Belarra formalizes in this way from the Government the initiative that the parliamentary group of United We Can already registered in Congress on Monday: a non-law proposal to urge the Executive to open an “independent investigation”
with the collaboration with the European Union and that the President of the Government and leader of the PSOE roundly condemns “the terrible events”.
Moncloa avoids a confrontation with Morocco and the president insists on blaming human trafficking mafias. The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, claimed this morning the “serious immigration policy” of Spain. And he accuses the Popular Party of making “a biased and partial interpretation” of Sánchez’s praise for the Moroccan authorities.
Sánchez not only did not retract this morning for saying that it was “well resolved” by the collaboration between Spain and Morocco, but he also asked for “empathy” with the Moroccan police on the radio. Marlaska reinforced that same message from Congress: “My words of support and condolences to the families of the deceased migrants, but also to the 50 Civil Guards injured and more than 150 Moroccan gendarmes in the violent attack on the border.” José Antonio Bermúdez de Castro (PP deputy) replied: “We ask that you retract!”
Pedro Sánchez has not participated in the Executive Control session in Congress because he is attending the NATO Summit held in Ifema, Madrid. The Plenary has verified the discomfort with the Government due to the dismissal of four Indra directors, the resignation of the president of the INE due to the rumors of his dismissal and the consequences of Melilla.
Bermúdez de Castro called the images of Moroccan police action “shocking” and Sánchez’s words “devoid of humanity.” Marlaska insisted that the PP misrepresents; and later, he insisted on defending Europe’s borders. “A democratic country cannot accept violent attacks on its border and on the State Security Forces and Bodies,” said the Minister of the Interior; and added: «We work dismantling mafias with the countries of origin and transit to save lives and protect our borders».
Sánchez’s words have become a throwing weapon for the opposition and its partners after the NGOs raised the number of deaths to 37. PP and Bildu have once again requested a rectification this Wednesday that has not arrived. ERC, Bildu, Junts, CUP, PDCat, BNG, Más País registered a request for Sánchez and Marlaska to appear on Monday. The PP also requested the urgent appearance of the president.
