The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has denied that the words of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, regarding a possible visit of King Felipe VI to Ceuta contain a "reproach" towards the monarch. As he has emphasized, if there is any kind of criticism, "it is towards those who have wanted to use the figure of the monarch in a migration crisis."
"I am not suspected of not making reproaches to the Royal House if I consider it necessary, but I believe that in the words of the President of the Government what is enclosed is a reproach to those who have wanted to use the figure of the King for a political debate, those who say that if they were presidents the King would go there," Puente pointed out this Monday in an interview on the program 'Malas lenguas' of 'La 2', reported by Europa Press.
The minister responded in this way to the statements made by Sánchez hours earlier, when he stated that there are "sufficient arguments and reasons" for Felipe VI to travel to the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, where he has not traveled since his proclamation in 2014, and also assured that "that visit will be made" when the appropriate conditions are met.
In this context, Puente has focused on the presence of the heads of the Executive in the autonomous city and has recalled that "only three presidents of the Government have visited Ceuta in almost 50 years of democracy." "Adolfo Suárez, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and Pedro Sánchez," he enumerated, highlighting that the latter has done so "on five occasions." In contrast, he reproached that former presidents José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy "only went during election campaigns to give rallies and not on institutional visits."
"This is the reality, the King of Spain has visited Ceuta once and he did so with a socialist Government, with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in the year 2007," he pointed out. When asked why he does not consider it "opportune" for Felipe VI to go to Ceuta in the first days of August after the massive entry of migrants, Puente explained that, from the perspective of the Executive, the "situation in Ceuta for the King to make a visit" is not currently present.
The head of Transport has insisted that, although he does not know if Sánchez's words "contained any reproach," if it exists, he has "no doubt" that "it is towards those who have wanted to use the figure of the monarch, once again, in a political, migratory, and humanitarian crisis like this."
Questioned also about whether he perceives attempts to politicize or ideologically mark the head of State, Puente has acknowledged that "that risk always exists." However, he has pointed out that he believes that "in general terms" the Royal House knows how to delimit "correctly" the institutional role of the King.
Relationship with Morocco and management of the border
In parallel, the minister has defended the relationship with Rabat and has emphasized that Morocco "has been and is a very reliable and necessary partner." He has highlighted "the good collaboration and relationship" with the neighboring country and has rejected as "a completely crazy thesis" that the massive entry of people into Ceuta responds to "an orchestrated operation" by the Moroccan authorities.
"I know it sells a lot for some to blame and hold Morocco responsible, but that is not the Government's position. If at this moment we do not confront the Moroccan Government, it is not because we do not have autonomy, it is because we do not believe it is fair nor convenient," he has argued, before emphasizing that "the good" for Spain "depends on good relations" with Morocco.
In this line, he has maintained that "Europe must contribute to the development of North Africa" because "that is the best guarantee for securing the borders." In his opinion, "Ceuta is one of the most sensitive borders in the world because the difference in the quality of life between those on one side and those on the other is so vast that it is logical that there are people who legitimately try to have a better future and that can only be secured with development."
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