Spanish government sets up tents at Ceuta port for 1,000 migrants
Spain's government is installing tents for 1,000 migrants at the port of Ceuta without consulting the Port Authority, which opposes the move. The decision has opened an institutional rift.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Ceuta: Spanish government takes control of the port to house migrants
The Spanish government has decided the port of Ceuta is its own. Without consulting the Port Authority or local businesses, it has sent Tragsa, a state-owned company, to set up tents for a thousand people. The measure, a response to migratory pressure, has peine an institutional rift in the autonomous city.
A unilateral decision that clashes with the Port Authority
Workers from the Tragsa group have begun levelling the ground next to the Ceuta Food Bank, inaugurated by Queen Sofía a year ago. Between 36 and 40 tents are to be installed to rehouse around 1,000 migrants. For now, six white marquee tents have already been erected, still without beds or tables. According to the workers, the esplanade, of about 36 square metres, will also host a larger structure.
The Port Authority and local businesses in the area have voiced their opposition. The mayor, Juan Vivas, is resisting the measure, while minister Óscar Puente has defended the government's action on social media.
The Prestige precedent and other battles
The situation recalls other episodes in which the central government imposed decisions against the wishes of local authorities. Some compare it to the Prestige, when an attempt was made to bring the tanker to La Coruña, or to the Ebola crisis and the killing of the dog Excalibur. In both cases, local opposition managed to stop or shape the decision.
If the precedent counts for anything, the resistance will not give up. But this time the government seems determined not to back down, and the standoff may last longer than expected.
The Spanish government has decided the port of Ceuta is its own. Without consulting the Port Authority or local businesses, it has sent Tragsa, a state-owned company, to set up tents for a thousand people. The measure, a response to migratory pressure, has peine an institutional rift in the autonomous city.
A unilateral decision that clashes with the Port Authority
Workers from the Tragsa group have begun levelling the ground next to the Ceuta Food Bank, inaugurated by Queen Sofía a year ago. Between 36 and 40 tents are to be installed to rehouse around 1,000 migrants. For now, six white marquee tents have already been erected, still without beds or tables. According to the workers, the esplanade, of about 36 square metres, will also host a larger structure.
The Port Authority and local businesses in the area have voiced their opposition. The mayor, Juan Vivas, is resisting the measure, while minister Óscar Puente has defended the government's action on social media.
The Prestige precedent and other battles
The situation recalls other episodes in which the central government imposed decisions against the wishes of local authorities. Some compare it to the Prestige, when an attempt was made to bring the tanker to La Coruña, or to the Ebola crisis and the killing of the dog Excalibur. In both cases, local opposition managed to stop or shape the decision.
If the precedent counts for anything, the resistance will not give up. But this time the government seems determined not to back down, and the standoff may last longer than expected.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (31 replies).
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