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Rabat – Only 25% of Spaniards believe that the recent improvement in relations between Madrid and Rabat, as well as Spain’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, will benefit Madrid.
The results come from a survey conducted by the DYM Institute for 20minutos, two weeks after the Spanish government’s announcement of a “new roadmap” for its relations with Rabat.
According to the report almost half of Spanish citizens believe the support for Morocco’s plan will be detrimental to Spanish national interests, while around 28% said they did not know or chose not to answer.
Right-leaning voters such as supporters of the Vox party were the most vocal critics of the agreement, as 76% of them believed it would harm Spain.
By contrast, left-leaning citizens were more likely to view the improved relations in a positive light, and around 38% of them welcomed Spain’s support for Morocco.
Spain announced officially that it would be supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in late March, bringing around a year of diplomatic tensions to an end, and ushering in what many have called “a new era” in Spanish-Moroccan relations.
The announcement was followed by a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and other officials to Morocco, where he met with King Mohamed VI and put in place a roadmap to further improve the ties between Madrid and Rabat.
The “new era” of Spain-Morocco relations could see improved cooperation in economy and security, as well as a gradual reopening of borders and more cooperation in areas of shared interest such as irregular migration.
Read also: Western Sahara: Spain’s Support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan Irritates Algeria
