Defence Minister Margarita Robles did not attend the Senate hearing on the Ceuta crisis, citing funeral duties. The PP accuses the government of limiting military action and avoiding urgent explanations. Tensions rise over ministerial accountability.
The absence of Defence Minister Margarita Robles from a key Senate session on the Ceuta crisis has triggered sharp criticism from the Partido Popular (PP), escalating tensions over the government's handling of military involvement in recent emergencies. Robles, who was summoned to explain the armed forces' actions during the Ceuta migration crisis, informed the Senate at the last minute that she would instead attend the funeral of a UME corporal who died in the Huesca wildfire. She reiterated her willingness to appear before the Senate, but only during the regular session period in September.
While ministers from Foreign Affairs and Interior had already addressed the Senate on the Ceuta situation, Robles' absence was met with strong opposition. The PP used the session to accuse the government of restricting the military's preventive activities in Ceuta, drawing parallels to previous incidents in Valencia and during wildfires. According to the PP, the government failed to involve the armed forces early enough, leaving soldiers to observe crises from their barracks rather than act proactively.
In a letter sent to Senate President Pedro Rollán, Robles explained her absence and reaffirmed her commitment to appear at a later date. However, PP senators, including Defence Committee chair José Manuel Rey and spokesperson Fernando Gutiérrez, dismissed her reasons, arguing that ministers are constitutionally obliged to provide explanations to the legislature. They criticized the government for offering shifting justifications for Robles' non-attendance, including conflicting schedules and alternative dates.
During the session, Gutiérrez insisted that the government's explanations were both urgent and unavoidable, and accused officials of lacking foresight in responding to the Ceuta migration crisis. He argued that the government only deployed the military to mitigate the aftermath, rather than prevent the situation. Gutiérrez also linked the crisis to alleged actions by Morocco and described the Ceuta incident as the most serious security challenge Spain has faced in five decades, criticizing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not taking responsibility.
Other parties joined the debate. Vox senator María Auxiliadora Pastor Pérez-Angulo described Ceuta as a 'lawless city' overwhelmed by uncontrolled crime and medical strain. Eduard Puyol of Junts argued that the Ceuta crisis was not just a local issue but part of a broader European border challenge, criticizing the absence of ministers and calling for a more measured political response rather than patriotic rhetoric. He even suggested the possibility of a local referendum on Ceuta's sovereignty.
The Senate session concluded in just over half an hour, with no resolution to the dispute over ministerial accountability. According to available information, the government maintains that the Congress is the primary chamber for such explanations, with Robles and other ministers scheduled to appear there from August 25. The Ceuta crisis, which erupted at the end of July, continues to fuel political friction over the role of the armed forces and the government's crisis management. Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration and border security issues, making parliamentary oversight of government actions particularly sensitive.
