Spanish mayor accuses migrants of ‘sponging off’ residents

Basque leader says North Africans take advantage of social benefits by falsely claiming residency.

Image via Flickr user grupomunicipalpp vitoria

A Spanish mayor caused a stir online after accusing Algerian and Moroccan immigrants of “sponging off” residents by registering for residency to take advantage of social aid, with no intention of working. Javier Maroto, mayor of the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz and a Popular Party politician, said in a radio interview he had no intention of being “politically correct” after the opposition proposed handing impoverished residents cash instead of free food. He also accused North Africans of failing to assimilate like Latin American immigrants have.