The Senate's Interior Commission met without Minister Marlaska, intensifying the standoff over Ceuta. PP, Vox, and Junts criticized the government and warned of legal action. The empty chair became a symbol of the dispute.
The absence of Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska at the Senate's Interior Commission session on the Ceuta crisis has escalated tensions between the government and the Partido Popular (PP). On Wednesday, PP senators gathered in the Clara Campoamor room, leaving Marlaska's designated seat empty and prominently displayed. The symbolic gesture, captured in a group photo, underscored the party's frustration after days of conflict over ministerial appearances in the Senate, where the PP holds an absolute majority.
Despite being summoned to address the situation in Ceuta, Marlaska did not attend, citing his commitment to oversee the special civil protection operation for the solar eclipse in Madrid. He has stated he will address the Ceuta issue in Congress at the end of the month, a justification the PP rejects. Only PP, Vox, and Junts representatives were present at the session, which began at 11:00. The commission's president, Fernando Martínez-Maíllo (PP), opened by condemning Marlaska's absence as a breach of constitutional and legal duty, calling it a deliberate act of disobedience. He announced that political and legal measures would be taken to ensure consequences for the minister's nonappearance.
According to PP sources, party advisors are exploring all legal avenues, including the possibility of raising a conflict of competences before the Constitutional Court, as has occurred in similar cases. The extraordinary session lasted around 40 minutes, during which PP, Vox, and Junts spokespeople criticized the government and posed questions they would have directed to Marlaska. Cristina Díaz, PP senator for Ceuta, described the ongoing situation in the city as urgent and criticized the government's delay in responding. Her emotional remarks highlighted the local impact of the crisis.
Vox senator Ángel Pelayo Gordillo reiterated his party's claims of chaos in Ceuta and announced a new request for Marlaska's appearance. He accused the government of disrespect and warned of a drift toward authoritarianism. The PP agreed to resubmit their demand for the minister to appear in the Senate. Junts senator Eduard Pujol used his intervention to criticize both major parties and renewed calls for the transfer of immigration powers to Catalonia, distancing his party from the Ceuta debate.
The session concluded with thanks to Senate staff for interrupting their holidays to attend the extraordinary meeting. While PP and Vox briefly acknowledged recent earthquake victims, the deaths at the Ceuta border were scarcely mentioned. The PP expects similar absences from other ministers scheduled to appear in the coming days, with the 'empty chair' image likely to be repeated. The ongoing dispute highlights the deepening rift between the Senate majority and the government over accountability and ministerial obligations.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, has faced repeated migration pressures in recent years, often leading to political disputes in Madrid. The Senate's role in overseeing government action has become more prominent as the PP leverages its majority to demand explanations on sensitive issues. The legal and political fallout from Marlaska's absence could set a precedent for future ministerial accountability in Spain's upper chamber.
