Defence Minister María Margarita Robles Fernández missed a basic Senate session on the Ceuta crisis after informing the Senate at the last minute that she would attend the funeral of a corporal from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) who died during the Huesca wildfire. Summoned to explain the Armed Forces’ actions during the Ceuta migration crisis, she reiterated her willingness to appear before the Senate during its regular session period in September. Her absence drew sharp criticism from the Partido Popular (PP) over the government’s handling of military involvement in recent emergencies.
The Senate’s formal record identifies the border incident as having taken place on 30 July 2026, describing a large group of foreign nationals forcing entry across the international border between Spain and Morocco. The request for Robles to explain the circumstances of the Armed Forces’ activation and their subsequent actions in Ceuta was registered as 711/000672. The hearing so covered both the initial military response and the forces’ continuing activity in the city.
Ministers from Foreign Affairs and Interior had already addressed the Senate on Ceuta. The PP accused the government of restricting the military’s preventive activities there, drawing comparisons with earlier incidents in Valencia and during wildfires. It said the Armed Forces had not been involved early enough, leaving soldiers to observe crises from their barracks instead of acting proactively.
In a letter to Senate President Pedro Rollán, Robles explained her absence and reaffirmed her commitment to appear at a later date. PP senators, including Defence Committee chair José Manuel Rey and spokesperson Fernando Gutiérrez, rejected her reasons, arguing that ministers are constitutionally obliged to explain themselves to the legislature. They also criticized the government for changing its explanations for Robles’ absence, citing conflicting schedules and alternative dates.
During the session, Gutiérrez said the explanations were urgent and unavoidable, and accused officials of lacking foresight in responding to the Ceuta migration crisis. He argued that the government deployed the military only to mitigate the aftermath, not to prevent the situation. Gutiérrez also linked the crisis to alleged actions by Morocco, called the Ceuta incident the most serious security challenge Spain had faced in five decades, and criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not taking responsibility.
Other parties joined the debate. Vox senator María Auxiliadora Pastor Pérez-Angulo described Ceuta as a “lawless city” overwhelmed by uncontrolled crime and medical strain. Eduard Puyol of Junts argued that the crisis extended beyond Ceuta to a broader European border challenge. He criticized the ministers’ absence, called for a more measured political response instead of patriotic rhetoric, and suggested the possibility of a local referendum on Ceuta’s sovereignty.
The funeral followed a prolonged wildfire emergency in Huesca. The fire began near Santa María de la Peña on 10 August and was declared extinguished on 12 September, after 34 days. It affected 16,285 hectares, with Las Peñas de Riglos and Bailo accounting for 73.7% of the burned area. UME Corporal Javier García Sancho died when the firefighting vehicle he was travelling in overturned.
In subsequent public remarks at Base Alfonso XIII, during the swearing-in of Major General Fernando Ruiz Gómez as commander of the General Command of Melilla, Robles defended the Armed Forces’ conduct. She said Ceuta and Melilla were “very Spanish cities” and “the best of Spain,” and described the military’s work as responsible and discreet. Robles also said complaints alleging possible mistreatment had been referred to the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts, and that she would not prejudge their findings. Senior military leadership described the work in Ceuta as “impeccable.”
The Senate session ended after just over half an hour, without resolving the dispute over ministerial accountability. The government maintains that Congress is the primary chamber for such explanations; Robles and other ministers were scheduled to appear there from 25 August. The crisis, which erupted at the end of July, continues to fuel political friction over the Armed Forces’ role and the government’s crisis management. Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration and border security, making parliamentary oversight of government actions particularly sensitive.
