Morocco’s decision to exclude Spanish ports from the 2021 Marhaba operation, a program for the reception of members of the Moroccan diaspora during summer, could cost Spain €1.15 billion.
Spanish news outlet La Razon said that over 3.2 million Moroccans from all over Europe traditionally cross Spanish ports, such as Algeciras, Tarifa, and Almeria, to reach Morocco for summer holiday.
La Razon acknowledged that Morocco’s decision to exclude Spain from this year’s Marhaba program is a real blow to the Spanish economy, which is among the hardest-hit in Europe by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some forecasts show that the economic crisis to be caused by Spain’s exclusion from the Marhaba scheme will mainly hit ferry companies, hotels, gas stations, among others.
Spanish politicians are already under pressure due to Morocco’s decision to exclude Spanish ports.
The secretary-general of the nationalist, far-right Vox party in the Spanish chamber of deputies, Macarena Olona, took to Twitter to condemn Morocco’s decision.
She said that the Spanish port of Motril alone could lose more than €20 million as a result of Rabat’s decision.
“This is without talking about the rest of the ports in Algeciras, Tarifa, Malaga, Almeria, Alicante, Ceuta, and Melilla,” Olona explained.
The issue will also impact all businesses in southern Spain.
Jose Ignacio Landaluce, the Mayor of Algeciras, also expressed concerns, saying that the decision is a “disaster.”
Read Also:Morocco Excludes Several Spanish Ports From Operation Marhaba 2021
Spain and Morocco are facing one of the deepest crises in their relationship due to Madrid’s decision to host Polisario leader Brahim Ghali for medical care.
Spain allowed Ghali to enter its territories using falsified documentation under the name of Mohammed Ben Battouche to avoid prosecution for several high-profile crimes with which he has been associated.
Despite multiple complaints showing Ghali’s involvement in crimes such us rape, genocide, and torture, a Spanish court dismissed the charges and allowed the Polisario leader to travel back to Algeria.
The decision resulted in further escalation of tensions. Morocco, however, has not yet made any public remark regarding the decision to allow Ghali to leave Spain.
But Rabat has long warned that such a decision could permanently disrupt diplomatic ties with Madrid, and many Moroccans are now urging the government to sever all ties with Spain.
