The Senate has granted this Tuesday its Gold Medal to the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla, Juan Jesús Vivas and Juan José Imbroda, as recognition of their political careers and as a gesture of institutional support to the two autonomous cities after the migration crisis recorded at the end of July.
During the ceremony, both leaders emphasized the fully Spanish condition of Ceuta and Melilla and the need to strengthen their protection and the presence of the State. "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended, Ceuta is Spain," proclaimed Vivas.
In the same line, the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, explained that the Upper Chamber not only distinguishes Vivas and Imbroda but also the inhabitants of the two cities. "Ceuta and Melilla are the place where Spain begins, where the heart of Spain beats stronger," he assured, highlighting that they are "bastions of sovereignty, of Europeanism, and of coexistence" and demanding the "permanent and unconditional commitment" of the State to both.
The July migration crisis marks the tribute
A good part of the event revolved around the situation that Ceuta is experiencing after what happened on the 30th and 31st of July, when, according to Vivas, "around 100,000 people were used to breach the borders and, therefore, to breach territorial integrity," leaving a "dramatic and painful mark" and keeping the city "absolutely far from normality" two months later.
The Ceuta president has demanded the return to Morocco of those who entered en masse and irregularly on those days and has estimated that about 15,000 people still remain in the city. "Ceuta has changed. Ceuta is not the same as it was on July 29," he warned, denouncing a decrease in "freedom," "tranquility," and "justice," as well as the deterioration of public services, security, and the local economy.
In this context, Rollán has called for accountability and to identify those who incurred in "neglect of duties" during the crisis, while valuing the work of the State Security Forces and the actions of Vivas. "He was where he needed to be, on the front line, protecting the city and his own, prioritizing the general interest over any other personal circumstance," he emphasized.
Criticism of the Government and request for more presence of the State and the EU
Vivas has attributed to the central Executive the responsibility for not having prevented the events and has stated that the state authorities should have heeded the prior warnings, acted after the precedent of May 2021, and deployed "all the means and capabilities of the State" to restore normality to Ceuta. In his view, what happened "could have been avoided" and that it was not done constitutes a "tremendous injustice." For this reason, he has demanded that the people of Ceuta be able to "know the truth" and that the foundations be laid for "a before and an after."
Among the priorities he has listed are greater involvement of the European Union and the State in defense, security, justice, health, and education, as well as a border "securely fortified." He has also proposed the creation of a mechanism that allows for "agile" and effective reactions to similar episodes and has insisted that Spain's sovereign decisions regarding Ceuta and Melilla "must not be conditioned by Morocco." "We want good relations with Morocco, but good relations that are based on respect. Without respect, there can be no good relations," he has emphasized.
Imbroda defends Spanish identity and points to the Executive
Imbroda, for his part, has also lashed out at the Government's management in the face of pressure at the border and has accused the Executive of "inability, lack of foresight, frivolity," and "irresponsibility" during the events of July. He has cited key supports for Ceuta and Melilla as the citizen mobilization throughout Spain, the upcoming visit of the Kings, and a resolution from the European Parliament that, in his opinion, implies that "Europe supports the future of both cities" and provides "certainty," "confidence," and "stability."
Furthermore, he has claimed the Spanish identity of Ceuta and Melilla and has rejected the arguments that question their belonging to Spain. "Melilla is Spain without any kind of ambiguity and without any kind of complex," he has proclaimed. He has also linked the future of Melilla to the elections on November 29 and has expressed his desire for the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to reach the Presidency of the Government, considering that he has demonstrated his "commitment" and "loyalty" to the two cities. In that same vein, Rollán has closed the event demanding a Government of the Nation "that is up to the circumstances" and has asked that this recognition contribute to ensuring that the situation of Ceuta and Melilla "does not fall into oblivion."
Absence of the PSOE and criticisms from the PP
No representative of the PSOE has attended the event in the Upper House, an absence that the PP has condemned. The general secretary of the popular party, Miguel Tellado, has lamented the socialist decision, which he has considered "another disdain" for Ceuta and Melilla. "Another disdain for Ceuta and Melilla and for the compatriots who live there. There are 54 days left until we have a government that promotes unity and concord and banishes the frontism that Sánchez fuels," he has written on his social media account 'X'.
The members of the PSOE in the Senate Table had already voted against the granting of the Gold Medals to Vivas and Imbroda. According to socialist sources, their rejection is due to the fact that, in their opinion, it is "a partisan use of the Upper House again" and "there are no precedents to justify it." "Before it was given to those who were presidents of the Senate and on the 25th anniversary of democracy, to those who had been regional presidents. There is nothing more," they have pointed out.