During a tense session in Spain’s Congress, Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo pressed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for answers about the crisis in Ceuta, where thousands of migrants remain stranded weeks after a mass crossing from Morocco. Sánchez offered no specifics.
Feijóo asked directly: "When was the last time you spoke with Moroccan authorities? How many times since July 30? What did you ask? What did they answer?" The government has offered no details, adding to uncertainty about Ceuta’s situation. Spanish and regional sources put the number of migrants still in the enclave at between 10,000 and 13,000, including about 2,100 unaccompanied minors. There is no clear plan for their return to Morocco. Morocco’s government has denied involvement in the mass crossing and rejected attempts to blame it, information from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy said that, since August 10, more than 5,321 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco from Ceuta.
Rather than answer Feijóo’s questions, Sánchez criticized the Partido Popular for its actions in the European Parliament, accusing it of trying to suspend Spain’s association agreement with Morocco. He then shifted to Spain’s economic performance, citing investment figures and credit ratings, without addressing the humanitarian and diplomatic crisis. Sánchez has said there is no evidence linking Rabat to the mass crossing and that investigations are ongoing. Spanish intelligence services had reportedly detected preparations for the crossing in advance, information from official sources.
Feijóo called Sánchez’s silence "a disgrace" and accused him of disrespecting Ceuta’s residents and Spain’s territorial integrity. When Feijóo could not respond, Sánchez changed the subject to the ‘ley de nietos,’ the law granting voting rights to descendants of Spanish exiles, and criticized the opposition’s stance after the Supreme Court suspended the measure. Sánchez said, "You should not fear the vote, but those who want to take it away, which is you and the far right of Vox."
Other ministers also faced questions. PP deputies Ester Muñoz and Juan Bravo asked Carlos Cuerpo, the first vice president, why the government had not acted on CNI intelligence warnings about the expected influx and why so many migrants remained in Ceuta. Cuerpo urged the opposition to back the government’s emergency economic aid package for the city, under debate in the same session. The European Commission has approved €114.7 million in emergency aid for Spain to address the migration situation in Ceuta, while the Spanish government has announced an additional €309 million package to support the local economy, security and reception.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska also spoke. Albares said he had immediately contacted Moroccan officials to demand an end to the crossings. Marlaska repeated that intelligence reports had not predicted the scale of the 2021 incident, though Defense Ministry documents suggest otherwise. Miguel Tellado called Marlaska "objectively and subjectively incompetent," and Elías Bendodo asked whether he should resign. Marlaska replied, "I believe I am right to remain in this government."
Vox’s Pepa Millán also questioned the government’s plans for Ceuta and accused ministers of telling residents to accept instability. Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, pointed to the opposition’s reluctance to support aid for Ceuta, saying its words did not match its actions.
The session ended with Sánchez leaving the chamber quickly. Asked about the fate of unaccompanied minors still on the streets, he referred journalists to Ceuta’s local president. The government’s refusal to answer the basic questions left the opposition and many observers demanding clarity.
