Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano is expected to resign as Ceuta's government delegate on Monday while a judicial inquiry examines whether he received CNI warnings before the mass arrival from Morocco. One alert, sent on 29 July at 13:52, warned of a potentially imminent mass entry, with migrants possibly crossing the border or reaching Ceuta by sea.
More than 80,000 irregular migrants arrived from Morocco during the July migration crisis. The basic question is whether Pérez Triano knew about the intelligence warnings before the mass entry. Investigators are also examining what happened after the alerts were issued.
Pedro Sánchez's Government has pushed for Pérez Triano's departure after weeks of pressure. He has repeatedly denied knowing about the warnings. He remained in office until this week and is expected to announce his resignation on Monday.
The central executive is preparing a replacement. ARA English reported that a Moncloa source described the departure as a personal decision after many weeks of intensive work.
The immediate political trigger was the resignation of Gonzalo Sanz, Pérez Triano's chief of staff, on 11 September. In his resignation letter, Sanz said he had passed the CNI alerts to the delegate. The warnings reportedly described a mass entry into the Spanish city as highly likely.
Pérez Triano's account conflicts with Sanz's. The conservative opposition has called for Congress to clarify who received the CNI warnings and who was responsible for acting on them. The clash has put the delegate at the centre of the Government's handling of the episode, making his position harder to maintain.
The court case is widening too. Around two weeks ago, María Tardón of the Audiencia Nacional took charge of proceedings that began in a Ceuta court. The case concerns the delegate's conduct during the mass arrival.
Hazte Oír expanded its complaint and asked for Pérez Triano to be questioned as an investigated person. It also sought the preservation of emails, recordings and relevant police reports. El Debate reported that the evidence request is intended to show how the warnings were passed on and how police organised their response.
Sanz is due to give evidence this Monday. The former chief of staff is expected to appear on the same day Pérez Triano announces his departure. The political change and court proceedings will so take place at almost the same time.
The original investigation began with a complaint from Manos Limpias. The organisation did not ultimately join the proceedings. The court said it so lacked procedural standing to request investigative steps and did not rule on the measures it had sought.
The complainants accuse the delegate of several offences: prevaricación, failure to pursue crimes, denial of assistance, and negligent homicide and injuries by omission. These remain allegations under investigation, not judicial findings.
No information provided shows that Pérez Triano has been convicted. The court has not confirmed the accusations.
María Tardón is also scheduled to hear Juan Jesús Vivas, president of the Ciudad Autónoma, as a witness. His testimony and Sanz's evidence will be considered alongside material about the alerts and the responses by police and the delegate.
Questions about official communication and responsibility remain open. An earlier media dispute examined a similar fight over control of public messaging in an earlier media dispute. The Ceuta case is narrower: it concerns warnings before a mass arrival and the duties of public officials.
Pérez Triano's resignation will not end the judicial investigation or determine whether the accusations are upheld. He will leave office while testimony is gathered and the Government prepares a replacement.
