The Spanish People's Party (Partido Popular) is demanding an immediate apology from the left-wing parties and especially the government, which they described as xenophobic and racist in connection with proposals to deport illegal immigrants.
On Thursday (29 August), the official representative of the Partido Popular (PP/EPP), the largest opposition force in the Greek parliament, demanded a formal and public apology from the coalition government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the left-wing platform Sumar.
The conservative Partido Popular was accused of racism and xenophobia shortly after its parliamentary spokesman, Miguel Tellado, attacked Sánchez's “irresponsible” migration policy on Wednesday.
On Friday, the Spanish Prime Minister will conclude an official visit to Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal. These states are among the main countries of origin of migrants who enter the EU via Spain, especially via the dangerous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.
Sánchez signed an agreement on circular migration with the heads of government of these African states. The Partido Popular rejected this agreement on the grounds that it would create a dangerous “pull effect” for irregular migration.
In addition, Sánchez has opened up the possibility of legalising migrants who are currently staying in Spain illegally. Tellado pointed out in this context that Sánchez has taken a “direction opposite” to the other EU states.
“While Germany and France are talking about mass deportations, Sánchez is talking about mass regularisation,” commented Tellado, as Euractiv’s partner EFE reported.
Sánchez sharpened his tone
At a joint press conference with Mauritanian President Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani on Tuesday, the Spanish Prime Minister called for “promoting formulas that make it possible to manage migratory behaviour in a humane, safe and orderly manner.”
On Wednesday in Senegal, however, the Spanish head of government toughened his speech. He spoke of the need for countries of origin to accept the return of those who arrive in Spain irregularly. He also recalled that criminal organisations that traffic in people collaborate with terrorist networks and drug trafficking.
The Spanish Prime Minister and PSOE leader highlighted the positive impact of regular migration on the economy, but warned that it is “essential” that those who come to Spain irregularly are resellable in their countries of origin.
“First of all, because this return sends a clear, strong and emphatic signal of deterrence to the mafia and those who fall into their hands, but above all because European and Spanish legislation obliges them to do so,” he explained.
The Christian prime minister's forceful tone served as a pretext for the Partido Popular on Thursday to demand an apology from those who accused the party of xenophobia or claimed that right-wing parties in Spain were “dictating” the Partido Popular's immigration policy.
“Apart from stating that the government has no plan to stop the arrival of immigrants on our shores at the source, we expect an apology from those who have questioned our 'moral superiority', from those who have called us xenophobic, and from those who have said that the ultra-right is setting the pace for us,” declared representatives of the Partido Popular.
[Bearbeitet von Kjeld Neubert]
