Poll: Spaniards say Ceuta crisis could spark armed conflict with Morocco
In a POLITICO poll, three in four people in Spain said Morocco poses a genuine threat to their country’s territorial integrity.
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In his first public appearance since the crisis, King Mohammed VI said cooperation with Spain faced 'major challenges' but did not refer directly to the visit.
"Morocco's response so far has been notably muted: In King Mohammed VI's first public appearance since the crisis, he said cooperation with Spain faced "major challenges" but did not refer directly to the visit."
Two-thirds of Spaniards in the survey said they expected Ceuta and Melilla would still be under Spanish control in 20 years' time.
"Still, two-thirds of Spaniards in the survey said they expected Ceuta and Melilla would still be under Spanish control in 20 years' time."
A September PF Global poll for POLITICO found that 58 percent of Spaniards believed tensions over Ceuta and Melilla were likely to trigger armed conflict with Morocco within the next decade.
"A September poll by POLITICO, conducted by independent pollster PF Global weeks before Sánchez called a snap election and published exclusively in POLITICO's new Madrid Playbook, found that 58 percent of respondents believed tensions over Ceuta and Melilla — which Morocco considers occupied territories — were likely to trigger an armed conflict between Spain and Morocco within the next decade."
Over 80% of Spaniards said Morocco posed a moderate to significant risk to Spain, putting it ahead of China, the U.S. and Russia.
"Over 80% of Spaniards said it posed a moderate to significant risk to Spain, putting the country well ahead of other foreign powers such as China, the U.S. and Russia."
Spanish King Felipe VI began tours of Ceuta and Melilla from Tuesday, a visit closely watched on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar.
"The numbers show Madrid is walking a tightrope in its handling of the exclaves, just as Spanish King Felipe VI's tours Ceuta and Melilla from Tuesday — a visit which is being closely watched on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar and expected to put Madrid's diplomatic relations with Rabat further on edge."
More than 70,000 migrants suddenly arrived in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in late July.
"The sudden arrival of more than 70,000 migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in late July fueled criticism of Pedro Sánchez's Socialist government and its handling of the border, as well as its lone opposition to tough new EU migration policies."
Ceuta's Deputy Mayor Kissy Chandiramani told POLITICO that Morocco refused to repatriate around 90 people who died in the crisis.
"Felipe is expected to visit the Sidi Embarek cemetery, where around 90 people who died in the crisis are buried. Ceuta's Deputy Mayor Kissy Chandiramani told POLITICO that Morocco refused to repatriate them — a gesture which analyst Ignacio Cembrero described as "a slap in the face.""
In the POLITICO survey, three-quarters of Spaniards said Morocco poses a real threat to Spain's territorial integrity.
"Still, in the POLITICO survey, three-quarters of Spaniards said Morocco poses Morocco poses a real threat to their country's territorial integrity."
Pedro Sánchez described the surge as an attack on Spain's territorial integrity but dismissed claims that Rabat was behind it, instead accusing smugglers.
"Sánchez described the surge as an attack on Spain's territorial integrity but repeatedly dismissed claims that Rabat was behind it, instead accusing smugglers."
Alberto Núñez Feijóo claimed the crisis has been 'spearheaded and coordinated by Morocco' and that the government had covered it up.
"Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the conservative People's Party currently polling ahead of Sánchez's Socialists, claimed the crisis has been "spearheaded and coordinated by Morocco" and that the government had covered it up."