Thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to protest against the Spanish government’s handling of the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, accusing it of failing to protect the country’s borders and demanding early general elections.
Many protesters carried red-and-yellow Spanish flags as they marched through the centre of the capital, chanting: “Ceuta is not for sale, it must be defended.”
More than 70,000 migrants reached Ceuta
The crisis in Ceuta, the Spanish territory in North Africa, has been unfolding since 30 and 31 July, when more than 70,000 migrants arrived from Morocco.
Most returned within the following hours, but thousands remained for weeks, with many sleeping on the streets.
The situation placed considerable pressure on the small city’s resources and developed into a political crisis for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Saturday’s demonstration was organised by the right-leaning civil society platform Sociedad Civil Española, with the support of the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the far-right Vox.
There were sharply differing estimates of attendance. The central government’s representative in Madrid put the turnout at around 20,000 people, while organisers claimed 180,000 participated.
Protesters demand early elections
Sociedad Civil Española called for early general elections to be held by 15 November, the return to Morocco of all migrants who entered Ceuta and for Sánchez to stand trial for what it described as “treason”.
“There has clearly been negligence,” PP parliamentary spokesman Miguel Tellado told reporters.
“The majority of Spaniards are demanding elections now,” he added.
Spain’s next general election is currently scheduled to take place by August 2027.
Government reportedly planning faster returns
According to a report by El País on Saturday, the government is planning to approve a decree at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting aimed at accelerating the return of migrants from Ceuta to Morocco.
The measure would reduce the time available to examine asylum applications and restrict the ability of applicants to remain in Spain while their cases are being considered, according to the report.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal criticised the government during the demonstration.
“Nobody can trust this government to do anything,” he said.
“This government has done nothing throughout this entire period.”
Government expands emergency response
The Spanish government has increased the capacity of temporary migrant shelters in Ceuta, deployed hundreds of police officers and soldiers and increased funding to the regional government.
However, local groups and opposition parties maintain that the measures are insufficient to resolve the crisis.
The demonstration has increased political pressure on Sánchez as his government faces continued criticism over its management of the unprecedented influx and demands from opposition groups for both tougher migration measures and an early national vote.
Source: CNA
