Aznar visits Ceuta, demands firmness over migrant crisis

Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar visited Ceuta on Thursday to show support for the city and its president, Juan Jesús Vivas, amid the ongoing migrant crisis. He declared that "the national sovereignty has no vacations" and called for firmness, stating that "weakness is and will always be provocative" Source: ABC. Aznar argued that Spain's territorial integrity had been violated by the mass entry of migrants from Morocco and demanded a "complete change" in the country's political direction to ensure the state responds when tested Source: El Confidencial.

Political reactions

The visit drew sharp reactions. The PSOE accused the PP of sending "the man of war" to Ceuta, referencing Aznar's handling of the Perejil crisis and the Prestige oil spill Source: La Vanguardia. In contrast, Minister Félix Bolaños highlighted that President Pedro Sánchez has visited Ceuta four times as head of government, while Aznar never did so during his tenure Source: Infobae.

Historical context

Aznar's visit evoked memories of the 2002 Perejil island crisis, when he was the only president to openly challenge Morocco. In his memoirs, he recounts telling King Hassan II that if Morocco went to war with Spain, it would lose Source: El Español. He also recalled that Morocco had aspirations on Ceuta and Melilla, and that France supported Morocco's position Source: El Español.

What's next

Aznar urged the stabilization of the border, calling it "urgent" and emphasizing that it is both Spanish and European Source: ABC. He backed the PP's plan to return all migrants who entered irregularly, a position echoed by Vivas, who insisted that "when I say all, I mean all" Source: El Mundo.