02.09.2026 23:31
Following the entry of approximately 70,000 irregular migrants from Morocco into Ceuta, Spain's territory in North Africa, on July 30-31, opposition right-wing and far-right parties, which held the left-leaning government responsible for the crisis, organized demonstrations across the country. Thousands of people took to the streets in the protests.
Following the entry of 70,000 irregular migrants from Morocco into Spain's Ceuta, opposition parties held demonstrations calling on the government to resign.
PROTESTS GROW IN SPAIN
"Ceuta Day," celebrated every year on September 2nd referencing Ceuta being under Spanish sovereignty, turned this year into demonstrations across the country in support of the city and in protest of the government.
The demonstrations, held in all major cities nationwide, especially in the capital Madrid, upon the call of the Federation of Municipalities, were also supported by the main opposition right-wing People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox.
THEY CHANTED "GOVERNMENT RESIGN" SLOGANS
In the demonstrations, which coincided with about a month after the irregular migrant crisis, thousands of people showed support for Ceuta being under Spanish sovereignty, demanded a solution to the irregular migrant crisis in the city, and reacted to the way the minority left-wing coalition government managed the crisis.
Protesters carrying Spanish flags chanted "government resign" slogans in the squares.
OPPOSITION PRESSURE FOR EARLY ELECTIONS ON GOVERNMENT
Meanwhile, PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, in his statements to the press, accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to ensure the country's security and failing to defend Spain's territorial integrity.
The main opposition leader, arguing that the irregular migrant influx in Ceuta was "carried out originating from Morocco, and that all indicators show the operation was coordinated by that country," demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who until now had made statements protecting Morocco, and that Prime Minister Sanchez immediately take the country to early elections.
Far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, in his statement to journalists during the action he supported in Madrid, used the expression "dangerous psychopath" for Prime Minister Sanchez, accusing him of "being at the service of the Moroccan regime like a servant."
POLICE REPORT THAT PUTS THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT IN A DIFFICULT POSITION
On the other hand, the right-wing newspaper "El Espanol" publishing a report prepared by the Police Directorate via the National Immigration and Border Center (CENIF) before the events, dated July 30th, warning of the risk of mass entry of tens of thousands of irregular migrants into Ceuta and implying that Moroccan security forces organized this, constituted the country's main agenda today.
Although Prime Minister Sanchez and ministers from the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), the major partner of the coalition government, have said in all their statements so far that they received no warning from intelligence officials before the irregular migrant influx in Ceuta and that there was no indication that the Moroccan administration was behind the events, both the report prepared by CENIF and some images published on social media showing Moroccan security forces organizing the migrants put the government in a difficult position.
Following the "resignation" pressures from the opposition, although Police General Director Francisco Pardo stated that there was no police report attributing the planning or execution of the events that took place in Ceuta on July 30th and 31st to Moroccan security forces, this was not enough to reduce the reactions from the opposition.
Prime Minister Sanchez will speak tomorrow in the Parliament General Assembly about the events in Ceuta.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Approximately 70,000 irregular migrants swam from the shores of the city of Fnideq in Morocco to Spain's Ceuta city in North Africa on July 30-31.
It was reported that all available resources of the Spanish government were mobilized regarding the incident.
The Spanish government decided to deploy armed forces to the region to ensure security due to the increase in irregular migration attempts towards Ceuta.
The number of irregular migrants who lost their lives while trying to cross from Morocco to Spain was announced as 88.