Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to express their dissatisfaction with the Spanish government's migration policy and response to the ongoing crisis in Ceuta. The rally, organized by civil society platform Sociedad Civil Española, drew support from Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) and Vox. The protest began at Plaza de Cibeles and ended near the Arco de la Victoria in Moncloa.
Estimates of the turnout varied significantly, with Madrid's government delegation putting attendance at around 20,000 people, while organizers claimed that 180,000 participated. The protesters criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government over its response to the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July. They called for general elections to be held before November 15, although Spain's next general election is not currently due until 2027.
PP Secretary-General Miguel Tellado attended the march, alongside Vox leader Santiago Abascal. Tellado accused the government of negligence over the situation in Ceuta and called for political action over its handling of the crisis. Abascal has also called for the deportation of migrants who entered Ceuta during the July influx. During Saturday's protest, Vox and other demonstrators reportedly used strong and aggressive language to describe the situation in Ceuta.
The protest follows the large-scale arrival of migrants in Ceuta on July 30 and 31, when more than 70,000 people entered the city. Most were returned while thousands remained in Ceuta. The Spanish government estimates that between 6,000 and 10,000 migrants remain stranded in the city. The incident has become a focus of Spain's domestic political debate, with far-right figures and other opposition politicians using the issue to criticize the government's migration policy and Morocco's role in border management.
Spanish media have reported that the government is preparing a decree-law to accelerate procedures for returning migrants who remain in Ceuta to Morocco. The move is seen as an effort to address the crisis and reduce the number of migrants stranded in the city. The Spanish government's response to the crisis has been criticized by opposition parties, who argue that it has been too lenient and has failed to address the root causes of the problem.
The Ceuta crisis has also strained relations between Spain and Morocco, with Morocco's role in border management coming under scrutiny. The issue has become a sensitive topic in Spain, with many politicians and citizens calling for stronger border controls and a more effective migration policy. The protest in Madrid is a reflection of the growing concerns about the crisis and the government's response to it.
The Spanish government is under pressure to address the crisis and find a solution to the situation in Ceuta. With the protest in Madrid and the criticism from opposition parties, the government will have to take a closer look at its migration policy and find a way to address the concerns of the public. The issue is likely to remain a major challenge for the government in the coming months.
Key points
- Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against Spain's handling of irregular migration and the migrant crisis in Ceuta.
- The protest was organized by civil society platform Sociedad Civil Española and drew support from Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) and Vox.
- The Spanish government estimates that between 6,000 and 10,000 migrants remain stranded in Ceuta.
