Puigdemont reopens the Ceuta and Melilla debate with calls for referendums

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Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has brought the long-standing dispute surrounding Ceuta and Melilla back into Spain’s political debate, describing the two Spanish-administered cities as “colonies or cities within Morocco” and arguing that their future could be submitted to a referendum. His remarks were made during an interview with The Times from Waterloo, Belgium, where he continues to live.

Puigdemont acknowledged that residents of Ceuta have a strong Spanish identity, but argued that this position would gain greater legitimacy if residents were allowed to vote on their political future. He also said that the cities could be viewed as a “wound” from a Moroccan perspective, echoing part of the position traditionally defended by Rabat over the two territories.

A position linked to the Catalan independence debate

The former Catalan leader’s comments are closely connected to his broader political argument in favour of self-determination. He suggested that Madrid would be reluctant to organize such a vote in Ceuta and Melilla because it could create a precedent that Catalan separatists might subsequently invoke.

The comparison reflects a recurring theme in Puigdemont’s political discourse: the use of referendums as a mechanism for determining the future status of territories. His latest remarks therefore place the Spanish-Moroccan territorial question alongside the unresolved political debate over Catalonia.

Puigdemont has previously addressed the status of Ceuta and Melilla. His latest intervention goes further by explicitly using the term “colonies” and advocating a popular consultation.

Ceuta and Melilla back in the Spanish political spotlight

The comments come at a particularly sensitive moment in relations between Spain and Morocco. The migration crisis around Ceuta has intensified political discussion about the two cities, their borders and Madrid’s relationship with Rabat.

Puigdemont’s intervention also follows recent opinion pieces and political reactions in Spain that have reopened questions about the historical and territorial relationship between Morocco and the two cities. Different proposals have emerged in the debate, ranging from maintaining the existing status to discussing alternative arrangements.

These positions should not be conflated. Puigdemont is advocating a referendum on self-determination, while other commentators have discussed negotiated changes in the relationship between Spain and Morocco.

A sensitive issue for Madrid and Rabat

Ceuta and Melilla remain highly sensitive issues in Spanish-Moroccan relations. Any discussion of their sovereignty intersects with questions of territorial integrity, border management, migration and bilateral diplomacy.

The debate has also gained renewed visibility amid continuing political tensions surrounding Ceuta. Spanish authorities and Moroccan officials remain focused on managing border and migration issues, while political actors in Spain continue to debate the broader relationship with Rabat.

Puigdemont’s remarks consequently add another political dimension to an already complex debate. By connecting the status of Ceuta and Melilla with the principle of self-determination, he has placed the two cities within the same broader framework he has long used in relation to Catalonia.