The Social Democrats have filed a constitutional complaint against Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) following his statements about the migrant influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The party wants to clarify what information the minister had when he warned of a new migrant crisis in Europe and Sweden.

It was at the end of July when about 72,000 migrants quickly crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. The event developed into one of Europe’s most high-profile migration issues of the summer and sparked sharp political debate even in Sweden.

Like many of his European colleagues, Migration Minister Johan Forssell was quick to warn about the consequences and simultaneously criticized Spain’s migration policy. Forssell has, among other things, claimed that Spain must regain control over its external border and that Sweden must be prepared to act if the situation has consequences for Europe.

READ ALSO: Spain’s Leftist Government Threatens Regions with Prosecutors If They Refuse to Accept Illegal Ceuta Migrants

The Social Democrats now argue that Forssell exaggerated the importance of the situation and that the government used the events during the Swedish election campaign. The party’s defense policy spokesperson Peter Hultqvist therefore wants the Committee on the Constitution (KU) to examine the informational basis the migration minister had at the time of his statements.

“What information did he have? Or was this just a statement he made to turn the issue into a domestic political matter during the election campaign?” Hultqvist told TV4.

Most Migrants Returned

A central part of the Social Democrats’ criticism is that the vast majority of migrants later returned to Morocco. According to information from Spanish authorities, about 70,000 people returned over the following days.

At the same time, it has been reported that the situation in Ceuta is anything but peaceful.

Hultqvist believes the government should have had a more complete information basis before the migration minister spoke out on the risk of a large-scale crisis.

Morgan Johansson (S) also considered that concern over a new crisis was going too far:

Reports: Moroccan Intelligence Among the Migrants

At the same time, new information has emerged adding a further security policy dimension to the Ceuta crisis. According to Spanish sources, the Guardia Civil discovered members of the Moroccan intelligence service among the migrants who crossed into Ceuta. The agents reportedly moved together with the large groups to observe what was happening on the Spanish side.

The information, sourced from the Guardia Civil, does not in itself mean that the massive migrant wave was orchestrated by the Moroccan government. According to other reports, Spanish intelligence assesses that Morocco allowed the mass movement to proceed, but it does not necessarily mean Rabat had preplanned the migration itself.

It has also been noted that Moroccan border surveillance was significantly reduced for a period before authorities later regained control.

The fact that intelligence agents were apparently among the migrants is especially noteworthy since the Spanish government has described the event as extraordinary and unpredictable.

READ ALSO: Doctors Sound the Alarm After Ceuta Chaos: “We’re Seeing Raped Girls”

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has stated that neither the CNI nor any other Spanish or European intelligence agencies had warned about an influx on the scale that subsequently occurred.

This information has fueled speculation as to whether the migrant surge may have had a larger security policy dimension than first appeared.

Spanish assessments simultaneously indicate that social media, disinformation, and criminal networks played a key role in mobilizing the large groups. However, there has been no public confirmation that the Moroccan state organized the migrant wave.

Rejects the Criticism

Forssell rejects the Social Democrats’ criticism. In a written comment to TV4, he instead accuses the Social Democrats of downplaying the risks and points to differences between the government’s migration policy and what he claims the Social Democrats could pursue together with the Left Party and the Green Party.

“I have consistently said that Spain must regain control over its external border. I have also said that we are ready to act if necessary. We are not a government that buries its head in the sand,” Forssell writes.

The Committee on the Constitution (KU) is tasked with reviewing whether the government and ministers follow the rules for government work. Members of parliament can report ministers to the committee, which then decides whether there is reason to investigate their actions.

The KU complaint thus means that the political battle over Ceuta now moves into parliament. The Social Democrats want to know whether Forssell’s statements were based on sufficient grounds or if the migration crisis was used as a political weapon ahead of the Swedish election.

READ ALSO: Meloni and Frederiksen in Joint Statement: “The Defense of Our Values”