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Rabat – The Moroccan government’s spokesperson Mustapha Baitas has addressed the media reports accusing Morocco of being involved in the Melilla elections fraud case.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Baitas emphasized that Morocco does not meddle in Spain’s domestic matters.
“Morocco does not interfere in Spain’s internal affairs,” he said, stressing that the European country is a “fully sovereign country, and we are aware of the context surrounding these matters.”
The alleged election fraud case involves thousands of mail-in ballots for Spain’s local and regional elections, which are scheduled for May 28. Last week Moroccan customs in Nador intercepted a batch of 80 fraudulent electoral votes from Melilla, according to El Espagnol.
Spanish politician Jordi Canas Perez from the Ciudadanos (Citizens) party has urged the European Commission to investigate suspicions of electoral fraud in Melilla, accusing Morocco of interfering in the matter, Ceuta TV reported.
“There are allegations from Spanish media that the fraud may have been orchestrated by Morocco as part of its strategy to violate the territorial integrity of a Member State of the Union,” Perez said.
The Spanish Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, responded to the accusations against Morocco during a press conference. He called on the media to stop spreading speculations and talking about “conjectures,” stressing that these are “extremely serious issues.”
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In addition, the Spanish minister assured that “there will be no type of fraud either in Melilla or in any other area of Spain,” stressing that the country will implement the “necessary and precise measures when there may be any issue or problem.”
He noted that authorities are carrying out an investigation into the case, emphasizing that the Spanish State Security Forces and Corps will ensure that the electoral process will take place “according to the guidelines of legality.”
As the case continued to spark controversy, authorities announced that Melilla police had arrested at least nine individuals suspected of being involved in the alleged election fraud.
The Spanish government’s representative in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, said that police detained three suspects late on Monday and six suspects on Tuesday. The arrests took place after local police searched 10 locations, including the headquarters of the Coalition for Melilla (CpM) party.
