JUSTICE!!! HE MUST PAY. THE MAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMIGRATION CRISIS

The management of the Ceuta crisis and immigration has brought into focus **Diego Rubio**, Chief of Staff to **Pedro Sánchez**, who is being blamed for strategic errors and alleged lack of attention to management.

The atmosphere within the Government Residence is far from serene. High-ranking officials of the Government and the PSOE critical of **Diego Rubio** are seizing upon the succession of blunders during the Ceuta crisis to settle old scores. His appointment as Chief of Staff to **Pedro Sánchez** in September 2024 has generated internal questioning, recalling the intense pressure placed on **Iván Redondo** at that time. His suitability to lead the Cabinet in the final stretch of the legislature is being questioned, despite his recognized skill as a communicator.

## The Ceuta Crisis Under Scrutiny

The Ceuta crisis has brought into sharp relief significant strategic differences. According to a PSOE official, **Rubio's** strategy on this matter is failing and serious errors are being made. The tendency to blame the PP (People's Party) is seen as a simplicity that offers no viable alternative ahead of the upcoming elections. Another high-ranking Executive official suggests that **Rubio**, at 38 years old and with an academic background, might be hampered by a hubris that prevents him from acknowledging his shortcomings. It is suggested that until now, he has been lucky not to face a crisis of major magnitude.

The proximity of elections increases nervousness and doubts about **Rubio's** capacity to orchestrate a "comeback." He himself appears "very nervous" regarding the media spotlight, accustomed to operating in the shadows, and is affected by the public perception that he failed to anticipate the Ceuta crisis despite warning signs. His treatment of subordinates and colleagues is also under fire, with comments suggesting that his "stylish" and "edgy" attitude has earned him enemies, making any criticism, whether true or not, believable to those who know him.

The theory of **Iván Redondo** regarding the impossibility of abandoning the Chief of Staff role without harming the president clashes with internal perceptions. Despite the criticism, **Pedro Sánchez** does not contemplate resignations over the Ceuta crisis, as this would imply assuming responsibility and could generate discontent among those who might speak out later. Even the Government Delegate in Ceuta, **Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano**, despite requests from partners like ERC and Compromís, maintains the "utmost confidence" of Moncloa. Official sources from Moncloa assure that **Sánchez's** confidence in **Rubio** "remains intact."

## The Weight of Immigration in the Political Debate

Immigration has become one of the most sensitive issues on the political agenda. Critics of **Rubio** point to this issue directly, describing him as an "authentic fan" who fails to perceive problems with irregular entries. While protecting immigration can appeal to pogre values and serve as a strategy to counter the far-right, it is warned that excessive defense of this view can create insecurity among the majority of the population and fuel the reactionary wave.

**Rubio's** view of immigration as a tool for constructing narratives against the far-right, similar to his views on the economy, is considered his major error during the Ceuta crisis. This has become evident in his responses to calls from the President of Ceuta, **Juan Jesús Vivas**. Despite being the Director of the Office and Secretary of the National Security Council, it is questioned whether he has fulfilled his legal obligation to evaluate scenarios, provide information to the president for decision-making, and facilitate ministerial coordination for a coherent response.

## The Influence of Communication and Management

The internal debate also revolves around the dichotomy between communication skill and management capacity. While **Rubio** is recognized as a "communications guru," his fitness to lead the president's office is questioned. The need to offer tangible management results has become crucial, especially in the final stretch of the legislature. The Ceuta crisis, along with housing, are two of the main issues cited by citizens in CIS polls, both directly related to areas where government management and narrative have played a fundamental role.

Regarding housing, the solution requires a State Pact between the central government, autonomous communities, and municipalities—something that seems difficult to achieve in the current legislature. The "wall" strategy has prevailed, and **Sánchez** has not even contacted the opposition leader, **Alberto Núñez Feijóo**, to address the Ceuta crisis, a matter of State that requires unity.

Immigration, which was the second problem for citizens in the latest poll, has dropped to third place, behind economic issues. Critics of **Rubio** hold him directly responsible for this perception, pointing to his apparent complacency regarding irregular entries. **Rubio's** view of immigration as a generator of narratives against the far-right, and also his views on the economy, are considered his principal error in the Ceuta crisis.