Former Spanish PM Aznar Slams Government’s Handling of Ceuta Border Crisis with Morocco

Speaking at the fourth Ibero-American Congress of CEAPI, José María Aznar stressed that the Spanish executive could have seen this conflict coming, harshly criticizing the fact that the government is already thinking about projects for 2050 while its border is "seriously threatened".

"Spain now has a very serious problem with Morocco unfortunately and this crisis unfolding in Ceuta was predictable," lamented Aznar.

"We can blame Morocco for everything, but we have to be honest and acknowledge that in recent days, the Moroccan leaders have warned enough that a conflict could arise. This alert was neglected and it finally happened," deplored Aznar, alluding to the many complaints from Rabat regarding the recent reception, under a false Algerian identity, of the Polisario Front leader, Brahim Ghali. The latter is hospitalized in a hospital in Logroño, near Zaragoza, under the assumed name of Mohamed Ben Battouche, while he is being prosecuted by the Spanish justice system for murders, genocide, and torture.

Aznar recalled that the first thing a government must do is to guarantee the territorial integrity and security of its citizens. "And I hope that on this occasion, at least, the government we have will not abdicate its responsibility, just as it has abdicated its responsibility in the fight against the pandemic by blaming the Supreme Court," he wondered.

President of the Spanish government for two terms (1996-2004), José María Aznar distinguished himself by his acerbic positions towards Morocco, poisoning relations between the two countries during his tenure. The biggest crisis of this era was that of the Perejil (Laila) islet on July 11, 2002.