Protests Erupt in Spain Over Government's Response to Ceuta Migrant Influx

Large crowds gathered in the capital Madrid as thousands protested in cities across Spain regarding the government's handling of the influx of migrants to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the north African coast. Opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of neglecting the residents of Ceuta, while the government claims that right-wing parties are exploiting the situation. A police report indicated that Moroccan security forces showed "total permissiveness" during the unprecedented influx, which occurred on July 30 and 31, when at least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta. Although most have returned, up to 5,000 remain in makeshift camps or scattered across the city, leading to unrest and a crisis for Sánchez. Protests have been occurring nearly every day, with demonstrators demanding that migrants be sent back to their countries of origin or redistributed across Spain. Wednesday's rallies were organized by city councils in areas where opposition parties, such as the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and the far-right Vox party, govern or hold significant influence. Demonstrators in Madrid called for Sánchez's resignation, with PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stating, "A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the Government of Spain." Vox leader Santiago Abascal criticized Sánchez, claiming he was acting as a "lackey" to the Moroccan regime. In Ceuta, participants chanted, "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended." David Hernandez, a 45-year-old teacher, expressed to Reuters that the government's response has been inadequate and highlighted the need for proper border management. Pressure on Sánchez's government has increased following reports that suggested Moroccan gendarmes may have been involved in the migrant crossings. The police report noted a smaller-than-usual deployment of Moroccan police around the border and included testimonies from migrants about a "passive attitude" during the crossings, though it did not definitively accuse Morocco of orchestrating the influx. The situation has been complicated by Morocco's long-standing claim over Ceuta and Melilla, which has historically strained diplomatic relations. Social media posts prior to the influx depicted the border fence as safe and easy to cross, despite reports of fatalities during attempts to swim around it. Spanish fact-checking website Maldita noted that messages encouraging crossings circulated on Moroccan social media following a June ruling by Spain's Supreme Court.