Thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to protest the Spanish government's handling of the recent migrant influx in Ceuta, accusing it of failing to protect the country's borders and demanding early elections.
Ceuta, a Spanish city seen from Morocco © Mena Today
Thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to protest the Spanish government's handling of the recent migrant influx in Ceuta, accusing it of failing to protect the country's borders and demanding early elections.
Demonstrators, many waving red-and-yellow Spanish flags, marched through the capital chanting "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended."
Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, has been gripped by a humanitarian crisis since more than 70,000 migrants arrived from neighboring Morocco on July 30 and 31. Most returned within hours, but thousands remained for weeks, many sleeping on the streets, straining the small city's resources and triggering a political crisis for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The protest was organized by the right-leaning civil society platform Sociedad Civil Española and backed by the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox. The central government's representative in Madrid put turnout at around 20,000, while organizers claimed 180,000 participated.
A manifesto issued by the group called for early general elections by November 15, the return to Morocco of all migrants who entered Ceuta, and for Sánchez to be tried for "treason." "The majority of Spaniards are calling for an election now," PP parliamentary spokesman Miguel Tellado told reporters at the demonstration. Spain's next general election is due by August 2027.
A decree in the works
The government plans to approve a decree at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to accelerate the return of migrants from Ceuta to Morocco, daily newspaper El País reported Saturday, shortening asylum application processing times and limiting applicants' ability to remain in Spain while their cases are reviewed. Asked about the report, Vox leader Santiago Abascal said: "No one can trust this government to do anything."
The government has increased capacity at temporary accommodation centers in Ceuta, deployed hundreds of police and soldiers, and boosted funding to the territory's local government. But local groups and opposition parties say these measures fall far short of resolving the crisis.
By Diego Romero
A liberal, centrist party founded by an adviser to Morocco's king came out on top in parliamentary elections after a late boost from the man credited with leading the national football team to global fame, early results showed on Thursday.
Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that non-State armed groups threatening states have grown considerably, now posing a threat to the world's maritime corridors and straits.
Moroccans vote in an election on Wednesday that will shape the government overseeing the final stages of a $20-billion push to prepare for the 2030 World Cup and projects to direct economic gains towards the country's disenchanted youth.
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