Thousands march in Madrid over Ceuta crisis and demand early election

Thousands of people marched through central Madrid on Saturday to protest the Spanish government’s handling of the migration crisis in Ceuta and demand an early general election.

Demonstrators carrying Spanish flags set off from Plaza de Cibeles in a march organised by Sociedad Civil Española, a network of civil society groups that has called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to issue an election decree by 15 November. The conservative People’s Party, or PP, and the far-right Vox party backed the demonstration.

The rally came almost two months after tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers entered Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco on 30 and 31 July, overwhelming the small Spanish enclave in North Africa and triggering a political and humanitarian crisis.

Reuters reported that more than 72,000 people crossed during the late-July surge. Most subsequently left, but thousands remained in Ceuta in the following weeks. Spanish intelligence documents later showed that authorities had received warnings about social-media calls for crossings before the border was breached.

Saturday’s organisers framed their demonstration as a defence of Ceuta and Melilla and a demand for an immediate election. Their published manifesto also calls for the return to Morocco of migrants who entered Ceuta and seeks parliamentary proceedings against Sánchez for what it describes as “treason” — allegations made by the organisers and not established findings against the prime minister.

The PP and Vox have both criticised Sánchez’s response to the Ceuta crisis, although their positions do not fully overlap. PP secretary-general Miguel Tellado attended Saturday’s mobilisation and has accused the government of failing to respond adequately to the border emergency. Vox leader Santiago Abascal also joined the march and has repeatedly demanded tougher migration measures.

Sociedad Civil Española describes itself as a plural, citizen-led platform. El País reported, however, that several prominent figures involved in the organisation have past or current links with conservative and right-wing political groups, including former Citizens MP Marcos de Quinto and Vox co-founder Alejo Vidal-Quadras.

The July crossing has remained a major point of dispute between the government and opposition. Declassified intelligence material showed that Spain’s National Intelligence Centre had warned both Spanish and Moroccan authorities on 29 July about online calls for people to attempt to enter Ceuta the following day. Sánchez has said those warnings did not predict the eventual scale of the crossing.

Morocco has denied accusations that it orchestrated the influx and has said no evidence has been presented showing that its authorities deliberately facilitated the crossings.

Madrid is meanwhile preparing legislation intended to speed up returns from Ceuta to Morocco. El País reported on Saturday that the government was working to take an emergency decree to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, including provisions affecting some asylum applicants whose cases have not yet been finally resolved.

Spain’s next general election is not due until 2027, unless Sánchez calls an earlier vote.