A new political scandal has erupted in Spain after Santiago Abascal, leader of the Vox party, harshly criticized the Open Arms ship, which is engaged in rescuing migrants in the Atlantic. In a post on the social network X, the politician declared that the vessel should be confiscated and destroyed, in his view, as a warning to those who support migration to Europe.
Open Arms has docked for the first time at a port in the Canary Islands, where it plans to remain for two months. The organization, founded in 2015, has saved more than 70,000 people over ten years who found themselves in danger in the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas. According to Open Arms representatives, their mission is to draw attention to the tragedies occurring on migration routes and to counter xenophobic sentiments.
The head of the organization, Òscar Camps, responded to Abascal’s remarks, emphasizing that saving lives cannot be equated to a crime. He reminded that Open Arms is engaged solely in humanitarian work and has no involvement in illegal human trafficking.
The controversial statements from the Vox leader have drawn a wave of criticism from politicians and the public. The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, condemned Abascal’s rhetoric on television, calling it an expression of extremism and xenophobia. He stated that such remarks are unacceptable in political debate and expressed his support for the work of Open Arms.
On Thursday, Clavijo personally visited the vessel, where he met with the organization’s founder, mission leader Ester Camps, and Captain Marc Reig. The regional head noted that the presence of Open Arms in the Canary Islands serves as a reminder of the need to maintain humanity in addressing the migration crisis and not to reduce the issue merely to statistics.
The president also recalled that in 2016 the Canary Islands authorities awarded Open Arms the Gold Medal for their outstanding contribution to saving lives at sea. He emphasized that the organization continues to carry out its vital humanitarian mission even in the most challenging conditions.
In response to criticism, representatives of Open Arms pointed to a recent campaign in which artificial intelligence was used to create images of well-known politicians at sea with a lifebuoy, accompanied by the caption: “We would save you too.” This initiative highlights that rescuers make no distinction between people in need of help.
The situation surrounding Open Arms has once again intensified public debate about migration and Spain’s role in addressing humanitarian issues at Europe’s borders. Authorities in the Canary Islands and representatives of civil society continue to stress the need to respect those engaged in saving lives and call for a more balanced approach in political discussions.
