Jorge Fernández Díaz accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of compromising national sovereignty after more than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco last week. Sánchez expressed gratitude to Morocco for its collaboration in overcoming the crisis, while he and the Congress of Deputies remained on vacation.
The border crossing generated widespread debate across European chancelleries, media outlets, and the European Parliament. All 72,000 individuals who entered the enclave have since returned to Morocco, according to Fernández Díaz.
Sánchez described the event as an attack against the territorial integrity of Spain, but he placed blame for the situation on human trafficking mafias and the Supreme Court. Fernández Díaz criticized this response, stating that it showed a lack of respect for the Spanish public.
Historical Border Influx and Pegasus Spyware
Fernández Díaz compared the recent border breach to events on May 17 and May 18, 2021, when approximately 10,000 people illegally entered Ceuta from Morocco. At that time, Sánchez traveled to Ceuta to support local residents and delivered an official statement from Moncloa Palace.
The following year, Sánchez wrote a personal letter to King Mohamed VI granting control of the Spanish Sahara without consulting his cabinet or Congress. That decision prompted accusations that Morocco held sensitive personal information extracted from Sánchez's mobile phone using Israeli Pegasus spyware.
Debate surrounding Pegasus technology has resurfaced alongside reports that mobile phones belonging to visitors at La Mareta, the official residence in Lanzarote where Sánchez is staying, were confiscated.
Royal Protocol and National Integrity
Fernández Díaz also reported that Sánchez prohibited the King of Spain from visiting Ceuta during the recent events. As a result, the monarch was forced to meet with the president of Ceuta at Marivent instead.
According to Fernández Díaz, the repeated border incidents and executive actions have placed Spain's territorial integrity and national sovereignty in Ceuta and Melilla up for sale.
