MADRID, Spain – The Congressional Board of Spokespersons has forced Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to bring forward his appearance before the lower house to September 3 to report on the migration crisis in Ceuta, after the government had proposed September 9 as the date. The government had registered the request for the prime minister’s voluntary appearance on Wednesday, with Moncloa sources stating that the proposed date was September 9, coinciding with the first plenary session of the new political year and 40 days after the border assault by more than 80,000 immigrants.
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However, several parliamentary groups, including some government allies such as Podemos, expressed that Sánchez’s proposed date was too late, and that another appearance was already scheduled for that day. The groups forced Sánchez to bring forward his appearance, which was finally agreed for Thursday, September 3 at 9:00 a.m., six days earlier than the date proposed by the prime minister. PSOE spokesperson Patxi López confirmed that some groups considered it needed to be brought forward and it was, stating it was without further importance.
Podemos leader Ione Belarra confirmed publicly that they had communicated to the government that it was deplorable that Sánchez would not account to the plenary until the 9th, stating that regardless of which party people vote for, everyone in Spain has seen that it was necessary for the president to interrupt his holidays to face the crisis, which had not happened. She added that if not, at least the first week of September the president should appear, and while it was not enough, it was better than the 9th.
Sumar spokesperson Verónica Martínez stated publicly that she was in agreement with both the 9th and the 3rd, though privately some sources within the space acknowledged it was pertinent that the appearance take place no later than next week. Compromís MP Alberto Ibáñez, who is attached to Sumar, had already been clear hours before the final decision, stating that the president should have appeared already and that the PSOE has Stockholm syndrome with the King of Morocco.
The opposition Popular Party has been requesting the prime minister’s extraordinary appearance since the border assault occurred, registering the request on July 31 with the intention that the prime minister attend Congress on an urgent basis during August. The initiative was to be debated in the Permanent Deputation convened for Wednesday, August 26, though with the confirmation that Sánchez will attend Congress on September 3, it will ultimately not be voted on.
PP spokesperson Ester Muñoz censured that the President of the Lower House had not convened the body until now, hoping the situation would resolve but that it had worsened, and celebrated that the advancement of Sánchez’s appearance had been achieved thanks to the PP’s pressure and insistence that he attend to give explanations. She noted that several parliamentary groups were willing to support the request for Sánchez’s appearance before the ordinary session period, which forced the government to rectify and agree to September 3.
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The Secretary of State for Relations with the Cortes and Constitutional Affairs had registered the request for Sánchez to appear voluntarily before the plenary on Wednesday, and the prime minister had planned to travel to Santander on September 2 to close the Digital Economy and Telecommunications Meeting but has decided to cancel the visit following the announcement of his appearance. The prime minister’s appearance before Congress will mark the first time he addresses the Ceuta crisis directly before the parliamentary chamber since the mass border crossing in late July.
