A heated session in the Asamblea Regional de Murcia on 21 September saw the conservative Partido Popular and the mixed group Vox/Independent caucus demand the immediate appearance of Government Delegate Francisco Lucas. Opposition deputies accuse Lucas of failing to provide timely intelligence on small-boat arrivals along the Cartagena and Águilas coastline, where nearly 900 irregular migrants have landed since 1 August. The debate comes after a weekend in which 11 inflatable boats were intercepted, prompting Guardia Civil deployments that temporarily closed parts of the Port of Cartagena, delaying two cruise turnarounds and a fertiliser shipment. Hoteliers in La Manga report cancellations from conference groups concerned by media images of beach arrivals, while regional health authorities warn their screening capacity is stretched. Deputies are pressing for a regional contingency plan covering port-of-entry triage, rapid PCR testing, and hotel requisition protocols similar to those used in Andalucía and Valencia. The regional government, however, argues that migration management is a state competence and that Madrid must foot the bill. For companies relocating staff to Murcia’s expanding agri-tech corridor or scheduling ship-repairs in Cartagena’s naval yards, the political tug-of-war could translate into patchy local guidance and sudden port-security measures. Mobility teams should keep close contact with shipping agents and consider alternative airports such as Alicante-Elche in case of maritime-related delays.
Source: Cadena SER (Murcia)
