The Ceuta deputy of the PSOE and first vice president of the Assembly, Melchor León, is the great critical voice within the socialist ranks due to the lack of response from the central Government to the crisis caused by the massive influx of migrants into Ceuta. Despite being from his party, he demands the resignation of Pedro Sánchez‘s delegate in the city.
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- How is Ceuta?
- In a critical situation. The people of Ceuta can no longer bear the pressure. We urgently need 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 the Government has brought us is this, well, it makes me sad and sorrowful.
- What is most needed now? Accommodation for those people?
- What we need most is to return to normality, for shops to be able to reopen, for people to be able to go out safely. There are many elderly people who have sent me audios even crying because their life now is to be locked up, they are going through worse than during Covid. That is why we urgently need the Government to act. We need deadlines and to know what it is going to do. It is a critical situation economically and emotionally.
- Are there security problems?
- Obviously, especially the problem is aggravated in the peripheral neighborhoods, where most of the migrants still remain. There is a serious security problem. We should not generalize, but the citizens are afraid after the fights and robberies that have occurred in the neighborhoods.
- How do you assess the response the Government of Spain is giving?
- Insufficient and it has acted very late. From the Assembly we asked for the state of alarm to be decreed to limit movements and then expulsion when they were registered. Frontex and the UME have been requested. Because the UME is there for any crisis situation. And to set up a temporary reception camp, but not for 1,500 people, because we have 10,000.
- Your criticisms are not far from those made by the Ceuta president, from the PP.
- I agree with him that the Government has acted late, and I want to show him my support because this is not a matter of political colors.
- Do you miss more involvement from President Sánchez in the crisis?
- Of course. How could I not miss more involvement when the day after coming here he went on vacation? Obviously I miss it, but not only me, all the people of Ceuta. Facing the most serious national security crisis 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 him 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 convey what is happening, but he is looking out for personal matters and is not defending Ceuta or the people of Ceuta. That is why I ask for his resignation. He is the one who should convey our needs to Madrid and I firmly believe he does not. Because the different ministers who come from Madrid are not aware of the reality we live. And when they leave they have a completely different reality.
- Is that why you think the Government gives a sugar-coated account of what is happening?
- It is that the top official, who is the delegate, has not listened to the people. You cannot be hidden in the Government Delegation for 18 days without going out or seeing the reality of what we Ceutans suffer in the periphery. It is not enough for me that you go to take a photo or to a private venue. That you have not made a public statement for more than 10 days. That the situation here is critical and the top Government official in the city is hidden and not heard. What security does that give us? It cannot be allowed. He should be facing the situation. It is normal that people are more nervous every day and think more that the Government is failing us. And it is a shame because it is the Government of my party.
- Is there any reason to act like this?
- Because he looks out for his political well-being, which is to be the PSOE candidate in the elections. Ceuta comes first. If not, he 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 party of the people. We socialists have to be critical and fight for the truth. What cannot happen is to deceive the people. All PSOE deputies in the Assembly will 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 know the reality they have been denouncing. Normally, surgeons perform between zero and two emergency operations daily. Right now it is four operations daily. The minister says they have hired 60 more doctors. It is a lie. They are using all those hired in recent months. Since the crisis started they have hired zero people. And then, for us it is disrespectful that the minister comes here and calls us xenophobes to our face. That is an insult to us and an insult to any citizen of Ceuta, which is an example of coexistence worldwide.
