Vox rides high in Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

{"text":[[{"start":8.16,"text":"The rightwing populist Vox party is rated by Spaniards as the best equipped to manage immigration, as a smouldering crisis over the Ceuta border breach batters the reputation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez."}],[{"start":20.58,"text":"In a new sign of rightwing parties capitalising on anger over immigration, a poll on Monday showed that Vox — which takes a hardline stance — is ranked as the most “capable” of managing the issue, including by some mainstream conservative voters."}],[{"start":34.64,"text":"The poll from 40dB also underscores the toll the Ceuta crisis is taking on Sánchez, one of the few European leaders who continues to espouse a liberal immigration policy, less than a year before the country’s next general election."}],[{"start":48.5,"text":"The leftwing leader has been thrown on to the defensive by shortcomings in his government’s management after more than 70,000 people swam and rushed illegally into the Spanish exclave from Morocco in late July."}],[{"start":60.24,"text":"Nearly six weeks on, the crisis remains unresolved. Between 5,000 and 10,000 migrants remain in the north African territory with a population of 83,000. Many are living rough and tensions are flaring with locals over insecurity and strains on public services."}],[{"start":77.36,"text":"Vox, Spain’s third-largest political party, has a longstanding strategy of channelling and stoking discontent over illegal immigration and Spain’s Muslim population. The Ceuta crisis — which has been condemned by rightwingers across Europe — has played perfectly into its hands, analysts say."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":95.5,"text":"Last week, Santiago Abascal, Vox’s leader, branded Sánchez a “traitor” who had allowed Ceuta to be “taken by force”. He also slammed the premier for “not daring to either denounce [Morocco] or to take any retaliatory action” against it over the crisis."}],[{"start":110.96,"text":"Morocco has denied any role in planning or facilitating the surge of migrants on July 30. Despite Spanish police probes pointing to the involvement of the Moroccan security forces, Sánchez told parliament last week there was “no solid evidence” Morocco had planned or controlled the influx."}],[{"start":126.92,"text":"According to 40dB, 27 per cent of Spaniards rate Vox as the party best equipped to manage immigration, ahead of Sánchez’s Socialist Party on 18.4 per cent and the conservative People’s Party (PP) on 13.9 per cent. Some 33 per cent of respondents had faith in no party or said they did not know."}],[{"start":149.36,"text":"Vox is primed to become a kingmaker in the next election as polls suggest the PP — which 40dB says leads with 32.4 per cent of the vote — will need Vox’s support to attain a parliamentary majority and govern."}],[{"start":163.52,"text":"For the first time in three years, the latest poll showed Vox and the PP combined surpassing the 50 per cent mark, with Abascal’s party on 17.8 per cent."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":173.96,"text":"After eight years in power, the survey underlined the uphill struggle Sánchez faces to win another election, with support for his Socialist party falling slightly since July to 27.6 per cent."}],[{"start":186.76,"text":"Some 63 per cent of Spaniards said Sánchez had performed “badly” or “very badly” during the crisis, according to 40dB."}],[{"start":195.2,"text":"Paco Camas, head of public opinion in Spain for polling firm Ipsos, said: “This crisis is going to drag on. It is going to be a much longer-lasting issue than any other crisis.”"}],[{"start":206.88,"text":"But he noted a curiosity. “Spaniards have come to see immigration as one of the country’s main problems. But it is not, however, a concern at a personal level. In other words, it is not something that really affects Spaniards’ daily lives.”"}],[{"start":221.52,"text":"Sánchez has condemned the Ceuta influx as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity”, but said last week that Spanish border guards had made the right decision to let migrants enter rather than risk more deaths by trying to block them at sea. More than 140 people drowned during the crossing."}],[{"start":238.56,"text":"Opposition politicians and Ceuta residents have criticised the prime minister for reacting too slowly to the crisis and not cutting short his August holiday."}],[{"start":247.18,"text":"Last week, Mati Ruiz, a 55-year-old from Ceuta, was among thousands of people who protested in central Madrid over the crisis. “Ceuta has been occupied, it has been invaded, and the [Sánchez] government has done absolutely nothing about it,” she said."}],[{"start":267.16,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788846501_4229.mp3"}