Morocco Bars Pro-Polisario Spanish Ministers from High-Level Meeting

The requirement, raised last September, "was non-negotiable," according to Spanish diplomatic sources consulted by Ok Diario. Pedro Sanchez has already informed the ministers concerned, mainly from the Podemos party, that they are not "welcome" in Morocco due to their support for the Polisario Front on the Sahara, contrary to Spain’s official position, which recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara in March.

These include the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, the Minister of Social Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Ione Belarra, and the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón. Sanchez is aware that the presence of these ministers in the Spanish delegation that will participate in this long-awaited meeting could jeopardize the strengthening of relations with Morocco and lead to new tensions, especially on immigration.

Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz had stated that the decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan "was not voted on in the Council of Ministers, so the government has not taken a position." Alberto Garzón, for his part, described the Sahrawi people as "victims" and called for a self-determination referendum. As for Ione Belarra, she indicated that "Spain must not derogate from international law." Irene Montero assured that "Spain must continue to respect the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

But the absence of some of these ministers would be significant. For example, the one in charge of Labor, who deals with the regularization of Moroccan women who cross the border every day to work in Ceuta and Melilla. Or the one in charge of Consumption, given that Morocco is the largest supplier and also the largest customer in Spain’s export-import balance.