The Government has had to come to terms this Tuesday with Pedro Sánchez's statements regarding the Monarchy after, in an interview on Cadena Ser the day before, the president had stressed that the King has not been to Ceuta for 20 years. "What he did was not a reproach, but rather he confirmed a reality," the minister spokesperson, Elma Saiz, excused him.
From La Moncloa they still do not specify when this official trip of Felipe VI to the autonomous city will take place, regarding which the head of the Executive assured that there are "no complications", although it would foreseeably involve a diplomatic conflict with Morocco. In this regard, they limit themselves to settling: "The important thing is that this visit is going to take place."
In response to questions from the media, the central Executive has stated that the last visit of the King Emeritus to Ceuta was in 2007 and that neither he nor his son - who acceded to the throne in 2014 - have gone again in two decades in which "there have been different governments led by the PP and PSOE." In this way, they argue, what the president tried to do was show that there has been "no veto."
What the minister spokesperson has said she "does not know" is what Sánchez and Don Felipe discussed in the office they held this Monday afternoon for approximately three hours. Both Moncloa and Zarzuela confirmed that this meeting was "scheduled before the summer" and framed it in one of the meetings that both usually hold "several times a month."
In the interview on Ser on Monday, the president stated that there are "sufficient arguments and reasons" for the head of state to "finally" make an official visit to Ceuta. "This is what I have shared with the King and it is what will be done when the conditions are met," he added about a trip for which he did not set a date, but he did anticipate that it will have to be "coordinated" between both institutions.
In addition, the Government also stressed this Tuesday that relations with the Royal Family "are good." However, the crisis in the autonomous city following the massive entry of 72,000 people across the maritime border with Morocco revealed a new friction between Moncloa and Zarzuela.
After the avalanche of July 30, a minister even suggested to Felipe VI that he call Mohamed VI to "thank him" for the help that the neighboring country initially provided for the return of a significant number of immigrants who had managed to enter illegally. There is no evidence that this contact at the highest level ever occurred.
309 million in four months
On the other hand, the Council of Ministers approved this Tuesday the Royal Decree-Law on urgent social and economic measures to support the city of Ceuta to "strengthen essential services and support the economic activity, employment and finances of companies and the self-employed." The shock plan involves mobilizing 309 million euros, plus another 50 million in guarantees, in the remainder of 2026, an injection from the State that is equivalent to 16% of the GDP of the autonomous city.
As detailed by the first vice president, Carlos Body, this extraordinary package contemplates, among other items, an increase in the staff of judges, prosecutors, lawyers in the administration of justice and officials for "the streamlining of expulsion files." Also the incorporation of 100 new health professionals and psychosocial support actions for the educational community.
In terms of security, an exceptional "performance incentive" of 7.1 million euros for the National Police and eight million euros for the Civil Guard deployed in the autonomous city has been approved. Another 74 million euros are also planned for the deployment of personnel and means, transportation, logistics and maintenance of the material of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces.
