Thousands of people protested across Spain’s major cities over the government’s response to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on North Africa’s Mediterranean coast.
Opposition parties, including the conservative Partido Popular and far-right Vox, have criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his administration’s handling of the crisis, accusing him of neglecting Ceuta’s residents. The government counters that these parties are politicizing the situation for electoral gain.
A police report released Wednesday indicated that Moroccan security forces exercised “total permissiveness” during the unprecedented migrant crossing, contradicting Sánchez’s earlier assertions that Morocco bore no responsibility. Days prior, the prime minister attributed the influx to human smuggling networks and online misinformation campaigns.
On July 30 and 31, approximately 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, according to authorities. While most have since returned to Moroccan territory, an estimated 5,000 individuals remain in informal settlements or are sheltering in public spaces throughout the city, sparking local unrest and mounting pressure on Sánchez’s government.
Citizens have demonstrated almost daily, demanding the immediate repatriation of remaining migrants or their redistribution across other parts of Spain. Wednesday’s coordinated rallies took place in cities governed by opposition parties or areas with strong conservative support.
Protesters in Madrid, where over 50,000 people gathered according to official estimates, called for Sánchez’s resignation. Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo condemned the government’s approach, stating: “A Spanish city has been invaded and occupied, and this occurred with the full knowledge of the Government of Spain.”
Vox leader Santiago Abascal went further, accusing Sánchez of acting subserviently toward Morocco, declaring: “He serves at the pleasure of the Moroccan regime, like a lackey.”
