Ceuta’s New Political Player Ignites Fierce Debate
In a move poised to reshape the political landscape of Ceuta, two residents of Moroccan origin have officially registered a new political party named “Justice and Development.” This development, formalized before a notary on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, has immediately stirred deep unease and controversy across Spanish political circles, primarily due to its striking resemblance to the names of prominent Islamist political movements in Morocco and Turkiye.
Founders’ Vision: A Spanish Party for Ceuta
Abdelasis Mohamed Ahmed and Abdeselam Abdelkader Mohamed are the figures behind this nascent political force. Choosing to remain without public photographs for now, the founders assert that “Justice and Development” is unequivocally a Spanish political party, operating strictly under Spain’s Constitution and laws. Their stated objective is ambitious: to “change the politics of localist parties” currently represented in Ceuta. They have openly criticized the performance of existing local parties, specifically MDyC and Ceuta Ya!, which hold assembly representation, labeling their impact as “disastrous for Ceuta’s citizens.”
The party’s chosen symbol features a dove of peace and scales of justice, rendered in red and green. While no official explanation for these colors has been provided, their potential reference to Morocco has not gone unnoticed by observers.
VOX Unleashes Scathing Criticism
The registration of “Justice and Development” quickly drew the ire of Spain’s far-right VOX party, known for its strong anti-immigration stance and nationalist rhetoric. Jorge Buxadé, VOX’s vice president for political action and an MEP, launched a scathing attack, accusing the party’s founders – without presenting evidence – of being obscure figures attempting to displace existing pro-Moroccan political forces in the enclave. This reaction aligns with VOX’s habitual practice of weaponizing Morocco-related narratives for electoral gain, framing Moroccan-linked actors as inherently suspect and politically subversive.
Buxadé highlighted the name’s similarity to Morocco’s Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which governed Morocco from 2011 to 2021, and Turkish President Erdogan’s Islamist party, established in 2001. The far-right politician went further, labeling Morocco’s PJD as a form of “institutional Islamism,” alleging its alignment with the country’s monarchy and state apparatus, and portraying Turkiye’s model as systematically undermining secularism to expand political Islam.
Calls for Surveillance and Geopolitical Framing
In a dramatic escalation, Buxadé demanded that Spanish Armed Forces, security bodies, and intelligence services maintain “active and constant surveillance” of the new formation. He portrayed it as a potential instrument of Islamist ideological penetration, posing a direct threat to national sovereignty. The VOX politician also criticized both PSOE and PP governments for allegedly abandoning strategic enclaves like Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands to “massive immigration and pressure from neighboring countries.”
This rhetoric is deeply embedded in a broader narrative employed by nationalist and far-right parties in Spain, which frequently portray Morocco as an existential threat to Ceuta. Alarmist narratives often invoke a supposed “new Green March” – not through military means, but via demographics, economic pressure, and political influence – to stoke fear, securitize coexistence, and transform routine cross-border realities into symbols of territorial siege.
An Agitated Political Scene
Despite the intense accusations from VOX, the party’s founders remain steadfast, insisting their movement operates strictly within Spain’s constitutional and legal framework. Even at this early stage, Ceuta’s political scene is showing clear signs of agitation. Speculation and informal maneuvering are intensifying as “Justice and Development” prepares for a phased public rollout. The timing of its registration, coinciding with the customary release of political surveys, has further fueled questions about the party’s electoral ambitions and its potential to significantly reshape Ceuta’s established political balance.
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