The president of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda, suggested this Monday that the way the central Government is addressing the migration crisis in Ceuta cannot be explained solely by "ineptitude" and hinted that there could also be "bad faith" on the part of the Executive.
"It makes no sense for it to be so ineffective, there has to be something more," Imbroda stated during his speech at the informational breakfast of "Nueva Economía Fórum" featuring the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, in Madrid.
The Melilla leader also lamented that Spain is facing the current situation "without a plan" or a clear protocol that allows for a reaction to a new massive influx of migrants like the one recorded at the end of July.
"The worst thing that can happen, or that has happened, is that we do not have a plan. There is no protocol," he emphasized, before raising what mechanisms would be activated in the event of a similar crisis recurring and what role would correspond to the Police, the Civil Guard, the State Security Forces and Corps, or the Army. "We do not have it," he reiterated.
In Imbroda's opinion, this lack of planning also forces a reconsideration of the current legal framework. "Melilla and Ceuta are different. If they are different for some things, they have to be different for all," he argued, demanding a legal reform that reflects the uniqueness of both autonomous cities.
Criticism of the response to Morocco
Under the heading "CEDING TO MOROCCO IS A GREAT MISTAKE," the Melilla president referred to the statements coming from Morocco that question Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, and lamented that Spain has not yet offered a "powerful" response.
"You have Ceuta burning at this moment and it could explode. You have Morocco demanding Ceuta and Melilla and there is still no powerful response from the Government of Spain," he indicated, later reproaching that, for years, the Spanish stance towards the neighboring country has been one of concession. "For some time now, with Morocco what we do is concede and it is a great mistake. It is a textbook error," he concluded.
Imbroda also criticized the lack of decisions during the month of August and described as "unbearable" that Pedro Sánchez remained on vacation while the migration crisis was unfolding.
Strong support for Juan Jesús Vivas
In this scenario, the president of Melilla has criticized that, in the absence of effective measures, the central Executive is now trying to "mess with Juan Vivas" and "discredit him."
"Just look at how much malice there must be in a president like Vivas, who has encountered the worst situation that has existed in Spain and is fighting to get it through," he has stated, in defense of the Ceuta leader.
For this reason, Imbroda has conveyed "all the support of Melilla" to the president of Ceuta and has assured that both autonomous cities will maintain a common position in the face of the crisis. "We will go together with you and with Spain as far as necessary," he has emphasized.