In a significant political move, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) is set to utilize the upcoming government control session in the Congress, which marks the final parliamentary meeting before the summer recess, to directly question Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. The focus of the inquiry will be on the government's stance regarding Morocco, particularly in light of its failure to condemn the drone strikes that resulted in the deaths of three members of the Polisario Front. This tragic incident, attributed to Moroccan forces, has drawn criticism from various political factions, including Izquierda Unida (IU), which voiced similar concerns last week through Youth and Childhood Minister Sira Rego.
The question, scheduled for Wednesday, will be posed by deputy Francesc Marc Álvaro, as indicated in the official list of inquiries submitted to the Congress. Last week, Sumar called for Minister Albares to summon the Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, demanding explanations for the lethal attack that occurred on June 7. Sumar criticized what they perceive as a double standard from the government, which condemned similar actions by the Sahrawi organization in May. Echoing these sentiments, Abdulah Arabi, the Polisario Front's delegate in Spain, expressed his condemnation of the government's perceived inaction and labeled their response as “double standards.” He emphasized that the drone attacks by Morocco reflect its unwillingness to resolve the longstanding conflict in Western Sahara, which persists nearly fifty years after Spain's withdrawal from the territory.
Last week, Minister Sira Rego condemned the drone attack as an “intolerable assassination” against members of the Polisario Front. Furthermore, IU's federal coordinator, Antonio Maíllo, urged the highest officials in the government to denounce such actions. Rego highlighted the violation of international law perpetrated by this attack, reiterating the right to self-determination for Western Sahara in a message on the social media platform Bluesky. Both Maíllo and IU parliamentary spokesperson Enrique Santiago characterized the incident as a severe escalation in Morocco's aggression towards the Sahrawi people and their right to freedom. Santiago even drew parallels between these attacks and Israel's targeted killings using drones or missiles against Palestinians, calling on the government to defend both international law and the Sahrawi people's right to determine their own future.
Santiago reminded the audience that Morocco is a key player in the Abraham Accords with Israel, despite the “atrocities” occurring in Gaza, enabling a “close military collaboration between both regimes” aimed at targeting Sahrawi leaders and conducting such selective assassinations. He also pointed out the deployment of electronic warfare capabilities, including the potential facilitation of the Pegasus cyber espionage program, which various investigations have linked to the Moroccan government's alleged installation on phones belonging to several members of the Spanish government, including President Pedro Sánchez.
As the Congress prepares for the upcoming control session, the PP's deputy spokesperson, Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, intends to question Foreign Minister Albares about the interests served by the government's foreign policy. Álvarez de Toledo has previously engaged in debates with Albares regarding the administration's foreign policy, during which Albares accused the PP of publicly criticizing the government's position on Western Sahara while secretly sending “emissaries” to Morocco to support it “behind the scenes.” In recent months, the PP has intensified its critique of Albares, alleging that he is shaping foreign policy to ensure Sánchez's political survival and responding reactively to parliamentary needs rather than adhering to a coherent strategy, particularly concerning Ibero-American relations and the situation in Venezuela following the arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro.
As reported by elplural.com.
