Partido Popular wants to prevent Moroccan migrants resident in Ceuta and Melilla from voting in local elections in 2015. The party said the right to vote could not be granted to the citizens of a country that has a territorial claim over the two Spanish enclaves, both of which are governed by the PP.
Party officials were speaking after Morocco approved a new Constitution on July 1 that allows foreign residents to vote in local elections. Four days later, Spain’s Foreign Minister, Trinidad Jiménez, said Spain would sign agreements to ensure that right was reciprocated.
Aside from EU citizens, Spain has agreements with numerous other countries – mainly in Latin America – allowing migrants to vote in municipal elections. If Madrid goes ahead with the agreements, up to 550,000 Moroccans resident in Spain could win the right to vote.
In Ceuta there are 3000 Moroccans who would be eligible, while the number is double in Melilla. The PP said the move would have “grave consequences” and said it would veto any plan to reciprocate with Morocco on voting rights.
Source: Gibraltar Chronicle – The Independent Daily First Published 1801.