The president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has expressed his support for the deputy in the Assembly of Ceuta for the localist group Ceuta Ya!, Julia Ferreras, as well as for the activist Rafael Borrego and the lawyer Sofía Cánovas, after the aggression suffered this Sunday during a protest by Ceuta residents against the arrival of the Pamplona NGO 'Negu Gorriak/Derecho a Techo'.
In a message disseminated on the social network 'X' and reported by Europa Press, Sánchez recalled that "We live in a democratic society that has cost us a lot to build. We cannot remain indifferent to the normalization of hatred," also emphasizing that "violence is never the way."
The head of the Executive took advantage of his intervention to also convey his recognition "to the humanitarian work of all the members of the NGOs" that work on the ground in the autonomous city to address the current migration crisis.
Government support and criticism of the climate of hatred
The Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, has joined the expressions of solidarity in an interview on "Cadena Ser," where she sent all her "affection" to the assaulted individuals. In the same intervention, she held the right and the far-right responsible for fueling the "climate" that has made the attack on the Ceuta deputy and the activists possible. In her opinion, words are not "neutral" and using expressions like "invasion" ultimately disrupts coexistence in the city.
Albares warns of disinformation and defends diversity
In this line, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has expressed his concern about what happened in Ceuta, recalling that the pillar of coexistence in the autonomous city has always been "diversity and plurality," "regardless of the origin and creed" of its inhabitants.
During an interview on "Catalunya Ràdio," Albares warned about the manipulation and disinformation spread by the far-right on social networks, which can lead to "exacerbating and bringing" the autonomous city to scenarios of violence. "We are working to ensure that Ceuta regains its normality and, above all, that it preserves its coexistence," he stated.
Torres denounces the "breeding ground" of the far-right
For his part, the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has considered on "TVE" that it is "absolutely unacceptable" that there is a "call for non-violence and people are attacked, because they say they are part of an NGO".
"There can be no action of this caliber," the minister insisted, demanding an "absolute condemnation" because it is "unacceptable". He emphasized that "This cannot be repeated because we are all trying to help to recover the normality of Ceuta," and pointed out certain parties and political leaders, such as the Vox deputy José Manuel Figaredo, for generating a "breeding ground" with messages in which it is stated that "we must hunt the immigrant".
"He is sending a message of hate. He is provoking violence, he is exacerbating spirits and, therefore, they are responsible for that violence," Torres concluded.