The Government wanted this Monday to underline its regret and convey its condolences for the death of up to 23 sub-Saharan migrants during "the extreme and extraordinary situation" that occurred last Friday at the Melilla border. “These images move us all. We would have ceased to be human if we were not moved by images of these characteristics, our hearts and souls did not shrink, seeing how human beings like us suffer in other parts of the world”, said the spokesperson for the Executive, Isabel Rodríguez.
La Moncloa tries to put the accent on the human drama that took place in this episode. "Of course they are images that move us and that hurt us and shrink our souls and hearts," the spokesperson insisted. “The Government regrets the loss of human lives, we deeply regret it. And we convey our sorrow to all the victims, those migrants who have been injured and also to the members of the security forces and bodies, our sorrow and condolences to the deceased and their families”, Isabel Rodríguez reiterated.
But the spokeswoman for the Executive, in line with what Pedro Sánchez expressed on Friday, has pointed out that "we must clearly mark where the problem is, and that is that there are international mafias that traffic in human beings, that cause these tragic situations to the that we have attended." "Therefore, what must be fought with strength is precisely those mafias to avoid inhumane treatment of people," Isabel Rodríguez has demanded.
"As a Government we work and ensure the integrity of our country, and therefore the integrity of Spanish cities such as Ceuta and Melilla", he stressed. The spokeswoman for the Executive has thus recognized the work of the State security forces and bodies, “and also the collaboration of the Moroccan security forces and bodies”. “Together we are watching over to protect our border”, she has warned. "The border of Spain is being attacked, which is also attacking the European border." And precisely within the European Union is where the Government places the reaction to the investigation demands that are taking place, to try to clarify an event that claimed so many human lives.
“The Government thanks the Moroccan authorities for their collaboration in defending our borders”, Minister Isabel Rodríguez underlined in any case.
The press conference in Moncloa after the Council of Ministers has, however, been especially uncomfortable both for the spokesperson for the Executive, the socialist Isabel Rodríguez, and for the Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, due to the highly critical position towards this event that has expressed its own political formation, United We Can, demanding investigations and explanations. Despite the fact that many of the questions from the press have been addressed to Irene Montero, to find out her opinion on the matter or if she supported the position expressed by the spokesperson, all the answers have been assumed by Isabel Rodríguez. "If the Minister for Equality agrees, I will respond to all questions related to what happened at the Melilla fence," argued Isabel Rodríguez, as government spokesperson. And so it has been. The political position of United We Can, therefore, has only been established outside Moncloa.
