Massive Protests Erupt in Madrid Over Government's Handling of Migrant Crisis

Thousands Rally in Madrid Against Government's Migrant Policy

On September 26, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Madrid to voice their discontent with the Spanish government's approach to the recent migrant influx in Ceuta. Protesters accused the government of failing to adequately protect the country's borders and demanded early elections. The demonstration, organized by the Spanish Civil Society with support from the Popular Party (PP) and the Vox party, commenced around 10 AM at Cibeles Square and proceeded towards the Arc de Triomphe in Moncloa, concluding around 1:30 PM local time.

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave located in North Africa, has recently been thrust into a humanitarian crisis following the arrival of over 70,000 migrants from neighboring Morocco on July 30 and 31. While the majority of these migrants returned home within a few hours, thousands remained stranded for weeks, many sleeping on the streets. This situation has strained the limited resources of the small city and created a political crisis for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Vox party, joined the protest, calling for the repatriation of migrants who have arrived in Ceuta and criticized the Spanish government's crisis management. He urged for early elections before November 15, with the next parliamentary elections in Spain scheduled for August 2027 at the latest.

Nearly two months after the significant influx of migrants, the situation in Ceuta remains unresolved. Approximately 8,300 migrants are currently housed in urban facilities, while an estimated 4,000 continue to live on the streets. According to reports from El País on September 26, Prime Minister Sanchez's government is expected to pass a decree during a cabinet meeting on September 29 aimed at expediting the repatriation of migrants from Ceuta back to Morocco. This measure is intended to shorten asylum application processing times and restrict the ability of applicants to remain in Spain during the evaluation of their claims.

As reported by vietnam.vn.