Spain’s government faces internal chaos after police sent a confidential report to a judge implicating Morocco in the Ceuta border surge—without informing the Interior Ministry. The move exposes deep fractures and questions over control.
Spain’s government was caught off guard when police sent a confidential report directly to a National Court judge, outlining evidence that Morocco organized the mass entry of 72,000 people into Ceuta last July. The Interior Ministry was not informed. The discovery has left top officials angry and confused, with some openly questioning whether the ministry still controls its own security forces. According to several official sources, the report went straight to Judge María Tardón, who had requested information from both the police and the Civil Guard to determine if there were grounds for a crime against the independence of the state, as reported by major Spanish media.
“We are defending Morocco publicly while our own police accuse them in secret reports,” one minister said, summing up the sense of betrayal and disorder. The government’s frustration has grown because the report, ordered by Judge Tardón, remains confidential, leaving ministers in the dark just hours before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s appearance in Congress. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reportedly learned about the police report from the press and immediately demanded answers from the head of the national police, according to the Interior Ministry.
"The Spanish government has publicly urged not to draw conclusions about Morocco's involvement in the Ceuta crisis until the police report is thoroughly reviewed."
Minister Ángel Víctor Torres
Some cabinet members believe the controversy will fade if the police evidence turns out to be weak. Others see it as a direct challenge to Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska, whose authority has been questioned for years. Sánchez continues to support Marlaska, but doubts about his control over the ministry have only grown. Reports from the National Court describe the crisis as unprecedented, with about 72,000 border crossings recorded over July 30–31. Many of those who entered later left or were returned, according to several international outlets.
The situation is further complicated by questions about Judge Tardón’s political background—she previously served as a security councillor for Madrid’s city government under the Partido Popular. Government sources say they are surprised that such sensitive information, which could affect national security, was not shared with the executive first. “If these findings exist, the government should have been informed to make decisions,” one official said. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Félix Bolaños told Congress that "there is no evidence" Morocco directed or encouraged the mass entry into Ceuta, and the government has promised full cooperation and transparency regarding all documentation.
Justice Minister Bolaños has called for caution and a thorough review of the police report before making any judgments. He said the government is “the first interested party” in understanding what happened in Ceuta on July 30 and 31. Meanwhile, pressure in parliament is rising: Sumar’s coalition partners want access to the report, and the Partido Popular has already called for Marlaska’s resignation, calling him “shameless, incompetent, and a liar.”
"The Ceuta crisis has led to special government meetings and ministerial appearances in parliament, with Prime Minister Sánchez presiding over a dedicated committee and facing growing pressure on the Interior Ministry. The issue has also reached the European level, as Spain has requested EU assistance to process around 5,000 migrants still in Ceuta amid local unrest."
Al Jazeera
Emiliano García Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha, questioned why it took a judge to request an investigation, suggesting a lack of initiative from both the National Police and intelligence services. The issue now dominates the political agenda, with the government scrambling to gather information and restore order ahead of Sánchez’s address to Congress.
So far, Sánchez has avoided direct comment on the police report. Instead, he released a video message expressing support for Ceuta’s residents and highlighting a €309 million recovery plan. He promised that the government is using all available resources to restore order, focusing on clearing the streets and ensuring proper care for new arrivals.
The sense of disorder inside the government is clear. As officials try to regain control, there is a risk that groups like Iustitia Europa—an ultraright organization acting as a popular prosecutor in the case—could access sensitive police information before the state itself. One official called this possibility “incredible.”
The Ceuta border crisis has repeatedly put the Sánchez administration under pressure, with the Partido Popular using the issue for political advantage, as reported earlier. The current dispute over police independence and government oversight reveals a deeper institutional rift that goes beyond a passing scandal.
Spain’s handling of the Ceuta crisis now faces a critical test. The government’s inability to access key intelligence from its own police is not just a bureaucratic problem—it signals serious internal dysfunction. When security agencies act on their own, bypassing elected officials, democratic accountability is at risk. The executive’s struggle to reassert control over the Interior Ministry is no longer just about appearances; it raises questions about whether Spain’s institutions can work together in the face of outside threats and internal divisions. Until this split is resolved, the government’s promises of stability remain in doubt.
