Former Spanish Foreign Minister Faces Judge Over Polisario Leader’s Controversial Entry

The magistrate wants to know who ordered the entry of Brahim Ghali into Spain for "humanitarian reasons", without even subjecting him to the mandatory customs control. During his appearance before Judge Lasala, Camilo Villarino, Gonzalez Laya’s former chief of staff, indicated that the minister alone could not make such a decision.

A thesis supported by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Garcia Margallo who, in an interview with La Razon, expressed his surprise to see the Sanchez Executive discharge the entire responsibility for the decision on Laya. "A decision that concerns different ministries and of such importance, cannot be taken by the minister without consulting the president," argues Margallo.

To read: Spanish Diplomat: Polisario Leader’s Entry Impossible Without Government Approval

According to the prosecution’s indictment, the decision to authorize the entry into Spain of the Polisario Front leader would have been taken in a "council of ministers" on April 15, during a session chaired by Pedro Sánchez and attended by the vice-presidents Carmen Calvo and Pablo Iglesias, Arancha Gonzalez Laya and the Ministers of the Interior and Defense, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Margarita Robles. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense were then instructed to "discreetly execute the plan provided for by the military airport in Zaragoza".

To read: Former Spanish Foreign Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Polisario Leader’s Entry

La Moncloa denies the facts and maintains that everything was done "in accordance with the law", without however specifying whether the order came from the Prime Minister. The government is in a position to limit the damage and has entrusted the State Bar to defend the former minister who will testify on Monday, La Razon believes. For the Spanish Executive, "it is not important to know who made the decision to authorize Ghali to enter Spain or who was aware of it", as it was taken legally. According to the same source, the government has tried until the last moment to avoid the appearance of the former minister, considering it useless and "impertinent".