Spain’s Popular Party escalates diplomatic offensive against Morocco

In the wake of the 50th anniversary of Morocco’s Green March and just days after a UN Security Council resolution reaffirmed the primacy of Rabat’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, Spain’s main opposition party, the Partido Popular (PP), has launched a multi-pronged campaign targeting Morocco’s diplomatic gains.

The PP’s stance directly opposes that of the Spanish government, which since March 2022 recognizes Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the most credible solution to the Sahara dispute.

Since that shift, Morocco and Spain have deepened cooperation on all fronts, including security, migration, and trade, consolidating a strategic partnership that both governments describe as essential for regional stability.

At the heart of the PP’s offensive is a non-binding motion submitted to the Spanish Parliament this week, urging the government to “clarify” its position on the Sahara and reaffirm support for European court rulings that annulled agricultural and fisheries agreements with Morocco.

This came ironically after the EU and Morocco renew their farm trade deals as the EU is also seeking a new fisheries agreement covering the Sahara.

The PP frames its move as a defense of international law, but analysts see it as an attempt to undermine Spain’s diplomatic realignment and capitalize on nationalist sentiment ahead of elections.

Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo reinforced this narrative with a provocative visit to Melilla, portraying the enclave as a symbol of “Spanish and European sovereignty” and accusing the Sánchez government of failing to protect Ceuta and Melilla.

PP officials have demanded restrictions on Moroccan agricultural imports, particularly from southern provinces, citing alleged unfair competition and tax irregularities amounting to €70–77 million linked to tomato exports.

This November push follows earlier provocations: in July, the PP invited Polisario representative Abdulah Arabi to its national congress and pressed the EU to exclude Sahara-origin products from trade agreements. These moves drew sharp criticism from Morocco’s Istiqlal Party, which reminded Feijóo of the broad international support for Rabat’s autonomy plan.

The PP’s strategy reflects electoral calculations and strategic anxieties over Morocco’s growing regional influence. Yet, despite its efforts, the party is unlikely to reverse Spain’s official position or the global trend favoring Morocco’s proposal. Instead, analysts warn, the PP risks isolating itself diplomatically and jeopardizing Spain’s economic interests in a bid to revive an outdated consensus.