The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has responded to the criticisms of the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, regarding the Government's management of the migration crisis in Ceuta and has demanded responsibility as the main leader of the opposition.
"A leader who aspires to preside over the Government must also be responsible when in the opposition," Torres stated in an interview in La Vanguardia published this Sunday by Europa Press.
The minister has particularly questioned the accusations directed against Morocco for its alleged involvement in the massive entry of migrants into Ceuta and has defended that there is no evidence to attribute the events to the Moroccan authorities.
"Things must be analyzed with evidence"
Torres has considered it "irresponsible" for opposition leaders to point to a foreign government without sufficient evidence. "Things must be analyzed with evidence and proof, not with conjectures or suspicions," he defended.
According to the minister, none of the available reports record an action that can be directly attributed to the Moroccan authorities. In case evidence emerges that proves some type of responsibility, he assured that Spain would act "with firmness."
The statements come after Feijóo has raised the tone against the Government for its management of the Ceuta crisis and has blamed Morocco for the massive entry of migrants recorded at the end of July.
Feijóo demands to know what happened in Ceuta
The leader of the PP has demanded that the Executive allow the director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI), Esperanza Casteleiro, to appear before the Official Secrets Commission of Congress to explain what happened.
Feijóo argues that Spaniards have "the right to know the truth" about the crisis and has criticized the Government for not providing, in his opinion, sufficient information. The PP believes that the appearance would clarify the role that different actors may have played in the events of Ceuta.
Torres, who serves as the sole command of the Government in Ceuta during the crisis, had previously accused Feijóo of using the situation for electoral purposes and had ruled out that the director of the CNI should appear in the Senate.
The PP hardens its discourse on Morocco
The statements come at a time of increasing political tension around the situation in Ceuta. Feijóo has hardened his criticisms of the Government in recent days and has demanded a more forceful response against Morocco.
The popular leader stated this Saturday that Pedro Sánchez's Executive has shown itself to be "hostile to the invaded and docile to the invaders" in relation to the Ceuta crisis. He also accused the Government of being "disloyal" to the authorities of the autonomous city.
The confrontation between the Government and the PP occurs while the debate continues about the circumstances surrounding the massive arrival of migrants in Ceuta and about the role that Moroccan authorities may have played.
Torres insists that any conclusion must be based on verified information, while the PP demands that the Executive provide new data and explanations about what happened.