Rabat – Morocco’s Left Alliance has expressed its strong condemnation of the controversial visit by Spanish monarchs to the occupied cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
The Left Alliance, a coalition comprising the Democratic Left Federation and the Unified Socialist Party, issued today a statement describing the visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the two enclaves as a provocative move by the Spanish state.
Such a visit aims to “consolidate a false legitimacy for Spain’s occupation of the two Moroccan cities in blatant defiance of international laws and norms,” the alliance wrote.
The coalition expressed its commitment to the Moroccan people’s struggle to liberate and reunify all parts of their national territory, stressing that this fight will not stop “regardless of the pressures and conspiracies” against Morocco’s historical right to the two enclaves.
It also warned that the future of cooperation and partnership with EU countries, including Spain, requires respect for Morocco’s sovereignty, including the recovery of its occupied territories and the completion of its territorial integrity.
The coalition further questioned the Moroccan government’s silence regarding the visit.
King Felipe VI landed in Ceuta for a rare visit to provide support for the enclave amid an internal crisis marred by economic crisis – including unemployment.
The visit is part of the Spanish monarch’s approach to handling pressure from the far right, which has been weaponizing the Ceuta crisis to attack the central government as well as Morocco.
Morocco’s opposition party, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), has also expressed concerns over provocative visits by far-right politicians, including Jordan Bardella and Santiago Abascal, to the Spanish enclaves on Moroccan territory.
“Against a backdrop of geopolitical upheaval and internal turmoil gripping Europe’s far-right parties, a provocative visit to the Moroccan-occupied city of Ceuta has recently emerged,” the party wrote. “The visit was orchestrated by Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally party, accompanied by Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party.” Felipe arrived in Melilla today, with Spanish media covering this second phase of the royal tour by airing their frustration over Morocco’s continued silence.
In response, some observers have stressed that Morocco has long adopted an approach of not being quick to respond to provocative moves from Madrid. They argue that, when it comes to its historically complex relationship with Spain, Morocco has traditionally adopted a diplomacy that prioritizes long-term interests and strategic patience, rather than engaging in passionate public pronouncements or in a game of back-and-forth statements with the Spanish government.
