Margarita Robles, the only Spanish minister showing real backbone

Ceuta: Margarita Robles stands alone in her resolve

Margarita Robles is, as of today, the only minister in Spain's government who seems to have a clear picture of the Ceuta situation. The question is whether that firmness stems from genuine conviction or from a role assigned to her in the government's script. The migration crisis at the North African border has exposed an internal rift that the Council of Ministers has failed to hide.

Genuine resolve or 'good cop'?

There are two schools of thought. One holds that Robles is the only one with first-hand information: military commanders on the ground pass her a diagnosis the rest of the cabinet ignores. "If truths are told anywhere, it's in the army," that reading sums up. The other sees a staged performance: her 'good cop' role would serve to project an image of firmness while Sánchez plays a different game. The joke about whether that firmness extends to spouses captures the sceptical tone.

The cost of the handling of Ceuta

One point on which all readings agree is that the handling of the Ceuta affair has been erratic. Whether it was a failure to see it or to understand it doesn't matter: the consequences are on the table. Given her portfolio, Robles is the one left exposed whenever order and borders are discussed. But that same exposure makes her the only one who could give the order to shoot without consulting anyone, a scenario some view with concern.

The question remains open: if Robles ends up paying the price for her solitude, the Ceuta crisis will have claimed another political victim. Or perhaps her calculated distance is the only strategy that will outlast the wear and tear. Time and the ballot box will tell whether it was genuine or just for show.