Ceuta warnings: Robles pushes for CNI chief hearing
Spain’s intelligence chief could be called to answer MPs behind closed doors over warnings issued before the mass arrivals in Ceuta on 30 July. Defence Minister Margarita Robles asked Congress president Francina Armengol on Wednesday, 23 September, to seek approval for Esperanza Casteleiro’s appearance.
Robles wants the parliamentary speakers’ board to authorise Casteleiro, director of Spain’s intelligence service, the CNI, to appear before the Reserved Expenditure Committee. The committee oversees the CNI and meets in private.
The move follows claims from the opposition People’s Party, or PP, that the government was trying to keep Casteleiro from appearing. Sumar, the junior partner in Spain’s coalition government, has also called for her to give evidence.
Armengol has already told party representatives that Robles is due before the committee on 6 October to address Ceuta. The interior and foreign ministers are expected to follow, but no date has been set for Casteleiro.
Robles said the intelligence chief was willing to attend and had no objection to doing so. She again said the CNI had done its job by warning the government delegation in Ceuta before the arrivals.
The row has also turned to the military response. Robles said the number of soldiers deployed in Ceuta had risen from 2,700 on 25 August to 4,100, with more than 7,000 patrols carried out on land, at sea and from the air.
PP MPs demanded her resignation during the parliamentary session. Carlos Rojas alleged that a call from the Moncloa government headquarters halted an army deployment on 30 July; Robles denied receiving any such call. A PP motion arising from the debate is due to be voted on next week.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com