Aznar dismissed alarm over Ceuta and Melilla in 1991
In 1991, Aznar visited Ceuta and dismissed alarm. Expulsions fell from 15 to 2 daily. The shadow of Perejil in 2002.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Aznar and the 'normality' of Ceuta and Melilla: censoring alarm during the Gulf War
[P]What was hidden behind José María Aznar's visit to Ceuta in February 1991? The then leader of the PP personally chose the dates to convey "calm and serenity", but he censored those who spoke of alarm. His argument: expulsions of undocumented immigrants had fallen from 15 to two per day since the start of the Gulf War. For him, a figure that proved an "absolutely normal" situation.[/P]
A figure that did not convince everyone
The expulsion figure was real, but the context was not. The decline coincided with the outbreak of the Gulf War, which diverted attention and resources. Aznar used it to defuse tension, but did not explain what would happen when the conflict ended. Critics saw in his speech a way to whitewash a crisis that would erupt later.[/P]
The shadow of Perejil
Eleven years later, in 2002, Spain withdrew from the island of Perejil after an agreement with Segarro with Powell as mediator. The irony is inevitable: Aznar's "normality" in 1991 turned into a handover. And the same Aznar who promoted autonomous status for Ceuta and Melilla, seen in perspective, seems to have prepared the ground for the handover.[/P]
[P]The paths of Spanish politics in North Africa are inscrutable, but history repeats itself: alarm is censored, data are whitewashed, and the handover is completed.[/P]
[P]What was hidden behind José María Aznar's visit to Ceuta in February 1991? The then leader of the PP personally chose the dates to convey "calm and serenity", but he censored those who spoke of alarm. His argument: expulsions of undocumented immigrants had fallen from 15 to two per day since the start of the Gulf War. For him, a figure that proved an "absolutely normal" situation.[/P]
A figure that did not convince everyone
The expulsion figure was real, but the context was not. The decline coincided with the outbreak of the Gulf War, which diverted attention and resources. Aznar used it to defuse tension, but did not explain what would happen when the conflict ended. Critics saw in his speech a way to whitewash a crisis that would erupt later.[/P]
The shadow of Perejil
Eleven years later, in 2002, Spain withdrew from the island of Perejil after an agreement with Segarro with Powell as mediator. The irony is inevitable: Aznar's "normality" in 1991 turned into a handover. And the same Aznar who promoted autonomous status for Ceuta and Melilla, seen in perspective, seems to have prepared the ground for the handover.[/P]
[P]The paths of Spanish politics in North Africa are inscrutable, but history repeats itself: alarm is censored, data are whitewashed, and the handover is completed.[/P]
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
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