Protests Erupt Over Ceuta's Status and Migration Policies
In response to the escalating migration crisis in Ceuta, tens of thousands of individuals took to the streets across Spain to advocate for the Northern African exclave's continued affiliation with Spain and to express their discontent with the government's migration policies. Participants and speakers at the demonstrations criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's central government for what they perceived as a lenient approach towards Morocco, accusing it of failing to provide adequate support to Ceuta. While Morocco has long claimed Ceuta alongside the other Spanish exclave of Melilla, it has not exerted significant pressure on this issue recently.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of Spain's conservative People's Party, characterized the influx of migrants as an 'invasion' orchestrated by Morocco. He accused Sánchez and his administration of deceit, claiming they had denied any forewarnings regarding the migration crisis and insisted that Morocco had not incited such a situation. Both assertions, according to Feijóo, are false.
During the demonstrations in Ceuta, thousands waved Spanish flags and demanded a return to normalcy, firmly asserting the message that 'Ceuta does not sell itself, Ceuta does not surrender,' as displayed on the banners. Reports indicated that on July 30 and 31, at least 72,000 migrants flowed into Ceuta, and a month later, approximately 5,000 remained in the exclave. Many of these individuals were camping on streets and beaches, placing considerable strain on the local population of 83,000. This situation has led to frequent protests, some of which have escalated into violent confrontations targeting migrants and private aid organizations.
Due to legal restrictions, Spain cannot collectively deport the migrants and must evaluate each asylum request individually, a process that could extend for weeks or even months. Additionally, the Spanish government is reluctant to transfer these individuals to the mainland because Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Zone, which could lead other Schengen countries to impose border controls similar to those enacted by Italy.
The demonstrations, coinciding with Ceuta's regional holiday, were organized by the FEMP, the umbrella association representing Spanish municipalities, which is led by the conservative opposition party PP. The right-wing Vox party also participated in the protests. Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida emphasized, 'Ceuta is Spanish and will not be left alone.' According to the central government's representatives, around 50,000 people attended the Madrid rally, which a national TV court deemed the largest single event of the evening. PP General Secretary Miguel Tellado claimed there were approximately 2,000 demonstrations throughout Spain, reiterating calls for the government’s resignation and new elections.
Contrastingly, some cities, including Barcelona and Bilbao, witnessed counter-demonstrations where participants expressed their opposition to racism, holding banners that proclaimed, 'No human is illegal.'
As reported by rhein-zeitung.de.
