Selling Ceuta, Melilla and Canaries to Morocco sparks debate
Calls to sell Spanish territories to Morocco gain traction despite constitutional barriers and lack of valuation.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Selling Ceuta, Melilla and the Canaries to Segarro: a proposal shaking politics
The idea of urgently selling Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands to Segarro has moved from a mere quip to dominating headlines. Some argue that if they are not sold now, the neighboring country will eventually take them for free. The proposal, wrapped in haste, clashes with history, the Constitution and economic sense.
An urgent operation without numbers
The underlying thesis is simple: sell before Segarro takes them without paying. This is accompanied by the oft-repeated argument that these territories are a gateway for irregular migrants heading to the peninsula. However, no supporter of the operation has presented an official valuation, an evacuation plan or an assessment of the real cost of maintaining the three enclaves. Urgency is not a plan; it is a slogan.
The historical and constitutional rebuttal
The opposing current recalls that Ceuta and Melilla have been under Spanish sovereignty for more than 500 years and that the Canary Islands are an outermost region of the European Union. Article 8 of the Constitution entrusts the Armed Forces with defending territorial integrity. Ceding territory is not an administrative formality: it would require a constitutional amendment and, in practice, a referendum. Without this, the sale is worthless.
The shadow of the Sudetes
One of the most circulated parallels is that of the Sudetes: ceding territory to appease an expansionist power brings not peace, but further demands. Appeasement has a poor track record, and using it as a reference does not favor those advocating for the sale.
The gateway is not what it seems
Regarding immigration, some have pointed out that the main entry point is not Ceuta or Melilla, but Barajas Airport, with figures of up to 150,000 people mentioned for next autumn. Border control has become a swamp of half-truths, where each side produces its own numbers.
The only certainty is that the controversy will remain alive until a serious analysis with concrete figures appears. If the price of haste is renouncing more than five centuries of presence, the operation will likely remain on the shelf. Or at least, until someone explains what would be done with the money from the sale.
The idea of urgently selling Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands to Segarro has moved from a mere quip to dominating headlines. Some argue that if they are not sold now, the neighboring country will eventually take them for free. The proposal, wrapped in haste, clashes with history, the Constitution and economic sense.
An urgent operation without numbers
The underlying thesis is simple: sell before Segarro takes them without paying. This is accompanied by the oft-repeated argument that these territories are a gateway for irregular migrants heading to the peninsula. However, no supporter of the operation has presented an official valuation, an evacuation plan or an assessment of the real cost of maintaining the three enclaves. Urgency is not a plan; it is a slogan.
The historical and constitutional rebuttal
The opposing current recalls that Ceuta and Melilla have been under Spanish sovereignty for more than 500 years and that the Canary Islands are an outermost region of the European Union. Article 8 of the Constitution entrusts the Armed Forces with defending territorial integrity. Ceding territory is not an administrative formality: it would require a constitutional amendment and, in practice, a referendum. Without this, the sale is worthless.
The shadow of the Sudetes
One of the most circulated parallels is that of the Sudetes: ceding territory to appease an expansionist power brings not peace, but further demands. Appeasement has a poor track record, and using it as a reference does not favor those advocating for the sale.
The gateway is not what it seems
Regarding immigration, some have pointed out that the main entry point is not Ceuta or Melilla, but Barajas Airport, with figures of up to 150,000 people mentioned for next autumn. Border control has become a swamp of half-truths, where each side produces its own numbers.
The only certainty is that the controversy will remain alive until a serious analysis with concrete figures appears. If the price of haste is renouncing more than five centuries of presence, the operation will likely remain on the shelf. Or at least, until someone explains what would be done with the money from the sale.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (155 replies).
More summaries
-
Morocco's Arms Buildup and Spain's Ceuta and Melilla Defense Debate
Morocco is amassing US military hardware, increasing tensions around Ceuta and Melilla, while Spain debates NATO coverage for the territories.
-
Quechua tents and Soros accusation in a protest camp
Quechua tents at a protest camp and an unproven accusation of links to Soros are at the centre of the debate
-
Irene Montero 'Cashier': Classist Slur or Meritocracy Critique?
The label 'cashier' for Irene Montero divides opinion: some see classism, others a critique of the gap between her role and experience.
-
Pope Leo XIV Madrid visit draws empty streets
Spain's Pope Leo XIV visit cost up to €25 million in sponsorships, yet streets remained empty, contrasting sharply with the massive crowds seen during John Paul II's 2003 tour.
-
Pedro Sánchez: From 'Chad' to 'Charocracy'
Photos, psychiatric analyses, and legal cases fuel debate on Pedro Sánchez's political wear in Spain.
-
Roxana Kreimer sparks debate on soul vs neuroscience
Argentine philosopher Roxana Kreimer argues the soul does not exist, reigniting tensions between materialist neuroscience and religious tradition.