Migration crisis The Government announces 1,500 new places to accommodate the immigrants who remain in Ceuta 18 days after the avalanche
Ceuta Vivas wonders if the Government's "passivity" seeks to "not bother" Morocco
The Ceuta deputy of the PSOE and first vice president of the Assembly, Melchor León, is the great critical voice in the socialist ranks for the lack of response from the central government to the crisis caused by the massive entry of migrants into Ceuta. Despite being from his party, he demands the resignation of Pedro Sánchez's delegate in the city.
How is Ceuta?
In a critical situation. The people of Ceuta can no longer withstand the pressure. We need urgent action from the central government as soon as possible. The minister [Elma Saiz] has been here and the only solution she has given us is to set up a temporary reception camp with 1,500 beds. I remind the Minister that there are more than 10,000. That after 18 days the only solution that the Government has brought us is this, because it makes me sad and sad.
What is needed most now? The accommodation of those people?
What we need most is to get back to normal, for businesses to be able to reopen, for people to be able to go out safely. There are many older people who have sent me audios even crying because their life now is being locked up, who are having a worse time than during Covid. That is why we urgently need the Government to act. We need deadlines and to know what he is going to do. It is a critical situation economically and emotionally.
Are there insecurity problems?
Obviously, above all the problem is aggravated in the peripheral neighborhoods, which is where the majority of migrants still remain. There is a serious security problem. We should not generalize, but citizens are afraid after the fights and robberies that have occurred in neighborhoods.
How do you assess the response that the Government of Spain is giving?
Insufficient and that action has been taken too late. From the Assembly we asked that a state of alarm be decreed to delimit the movements and then the expulsion when they were affiliated. Frontex and the EMU have been asked. Because the UME is there for any crisis situation. And set up a temporary reception camp, but not for 1,500 people, because we have 10,000.
His criticisms are not far from those made by the president of Ceuta, from the PP.
I agree with him that the Government has acted late, and I want to show my support because this is not a question of political colors.
Do you miss more involvement from President Sánchez in the crisis?
Man, of course. How can I not miss more involvement when the next day after coming here he went on vacation? Obviously I miss it, but not just me, all the people of Ceuta. Faced with the most serious national security crisis that the State has experienced, I do not understand how this person is on vacation. The truth is that I feel sad that this is happening and from here I ask you to be more involved.
A second visit to start?
For me, the main person responsible for what is happening in Ceuta is the Government delegate [Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano]. He is the one who should transmit what is happening, but he is looking for personal reasons and is not defending Ceuta or the people of Ceuta. That is why I ask for your resignation. He is the one who must convey our needs to Madrid and I firmly believe that he does not do so. Because the different ministers who come from Madrid are not aware of the reality we live in. And when they leave they have a completely different reality.
Is that why you think the Government gives a sweetened account of what is happening?
The thing is that the person in charge, who is the delegate, has not listened to the people. You cannot be hiding in the Government Delegation for 18 days without going out or seeing the reality of what we Ceutís suffer in the periphery. It doesn't matter to me if you go to take a photo or go to a private area. That for more than 10 days you have not made a public statement. That here the situation is critical and the head of the Government in the city is hidden and cannot be heard. What security does it give us? It cannot be allowed. He should be showing his face. It is normal that people are more nervous every day and think more that the Government is failing us. And it's a shame because it's my party's government.
Is there any reason to act like this?
Because he looks after his political well-being, which is being the PSOE candidate in the elections. The first is Ceuta. If not, you should resign and leave.
Are you worried that the PSOE will open a file against you for these criticisms?
Nothing. If they open a file against me for telling the truth, then the PSOE would cease to be the people's party. We socialists have to be critical and fight for the truth. What it cannot be is to deceive the people. All PSOE deputies in the Assembly are going to tell the truth.
The Minister of Health denies a health collapse, but concern about health is growing.
Yes, it is growing. The socialist parliamentary group has met with health workers to find out the reality that they have been denouncing. Normally, surgeons perform between zero and two emergency operations a day. Right now it is in four daily operations. The minister says that they have hired 60 more doctors. It's a lie. They are taking advantage of all those who have been hired in recent months. Since the crisis began, they have hired zero people. And then, for us it is a lack of respect for the minister to come here and call us xenophobes to our face. That is an insult to us and it is an insult to any citizen of Ceuta, which is an example of coexistence worldwide.
