Gabriel Rufián denounced the Spanish government’s cynicism regarding its about-turn on the Sahara. He also called for structural changes to address the effects of a crisis that “will not end on 30th June,” unlike the many measures decreed.

In his speech before Congress, Mr Rufián denounced the Spanish government’s cynicism of its policy reversal regarding Morocco and its conflict with Western Sahara. “Why are tanks being sent to fight a tyrant like Putin, but letters to another tyrant like Mohamed VI? Why do the Sahrawis deserve fewer rights for their government than the Ukrainians?”

Mr Rufián responded thus to Pedro Sánchez, who appeared before Congress to report on the last European summit—he is obliged to by law—and also on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and on Spain’s agreement with Morocco to endorse the Moroccan solution for the Western Saharan conflict, which basically involves failing to recognize its right to self-determination, thereby disregarding UN resolutions. “They have breached 74 UN resolutions,” he exclaimed.

A separate chapter is the inconsistency of the Spanish government regarding Ukraine and its refugees. “Geopolitics has reasons that decency cannot fathom,” said Mr Rufián. “Why is the government defending the right of the Ukrainian people to exist before Russia but betraying the right of the Sahrawi people to exist before Morocco?” He asked.

Esquerra’s member of Congress believes this also has to do with the conflict in Eastern Europe. Russia’s war in Ukraine, he said, is between two world-leading exporters of wheat, maize and sunflower oil. “And in a world where food is traded at the Chicago Stock Exchange, a war between these two countries will push up cereal and bread prices by 50%, literally killing thousands of people in Africa.”

“What does the government achieve by abandoning those people? Well, it’s hard and dramatic to have to say it. You’re simply swapping moral principle for greater Moroccan control of the fences to keep immigrants out at Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s enclaves in North Africa,” declared Mr Rufián.