Juan Jesús Vivas, the president of Ceuta, said the city needs to leave the "UCI" — the Spanish term for intensive care — during a press conference.
The statement highlights the precarious state of the autonomous city and its struggle for stability. By using medical terminology to describe the city's condition, Vivas is signaling a crisis that requires immediate intervention and national support.
Vivas spoke to the media on Aug. 23 at the Palacio de la Asamblea [2]. He appeared following a meeting with María José García-Pelayo, the mayor of Jerez and president of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) [1].
The president used the appearance to emphasize the resilience of the territory. "Ceuta se mantiene en pie. Ceuta no se rinde," Vivas said [1]. In English, he stated that Ceuta remains standing and will not surrender.
The meeting served as a platform to address the current hardships facing the city. Vivas said that the city needs to exit the intensive care unit to ensure its future viability [1].
García-Pelayo expressed her solidarity with the region during the event. She said that supporting Ceuta is the same as supporting Spain [1].
The discourse focused heavily on the geopolitical and social importance of the city. Vivas said the gathering was an opportunity to reiterate Ceuta's commitment to the unity of Spain [1].
“"La ciudad necesita salir de la UCI"”
The use of 'UCI' (intensive care) suggests that Ceuta is facing severe systemic challenges, likely spanning economic, social, or security dimensions. By framing the city's survival as synonymous with the unity of Spain, Vivas is attempting to elevate a local crisis into a matter of national interest to secure more resources and political backing from Madrid.
