Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the Partido Popular (PP) leadership will lead demonstrations across Spain in support of Ceuta on September 2, with rallies planned outside town halls nationwide. They are scheduled just hours before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is due in Congress to address the ongoing migration and humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The PP’s decision to mobilize its entire national leadership, with Feijóo attending the Madrid protest, signals a direct challenge to the government’s handling of the situation. Since late July, 80,000 people have arrived from Morocco, and around 9,000 migrants remain in Ceuta. Local authorities and residents have sharply criticized the government’s response, joined by opposition parties. Some coalition partners have also voiced concern.
Vox has announced it will participate, urging supporters to join under the slogan “No a la invasión. Defiende Ceuta. Defienda España.” The PP presents the rallies as a defense of Spain’s borders and an expression of solidarity with Ceuta; they are also widely seen as a protest against the government’s management of the crisis. Their timing, just 12 hours before Sánchez and Feijóo face off in Congress, adds to the political stakes.
The initiative for the September 2 rallies came from María José García-Pelayo, a PP mayor and president of the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP). The move has sparked internal conflict. PSOE, IU, ERC and Junts have publicly condemned García-Pelayo for acting unilaterally, accusing her of bypassing the FEMP’s governing bodies and using the institution for partisan purposes. In a joint statement, the groups demanded that she reverse her decisions and called for respect for institutional procedures.
Many rally announcements feature the FEMP logo, but the organization has no consensus on the issue. The dispute has exposed deep divisions, with opposition groups insisting that solidarity with Ceuta should not be politicized. They argue that local governments have consistently shown support in times of crisis, but warn against using the FEMP for party interests.
The protests come amid mounting pressure on the government. As Sánchez prepares to explain his crisis management in Congress, the opposition is intensifying its campaign. The situation in Ceuta has already prompted calls for early elections and heightened scrutiny of the government’s actions, as detailed in recent coverage of the political fallout from the Ceuta crisis.
Ceuta’s strategic position on the North African coast has long made it a focal point for migration flows into Spain. The current crisis has strained local resources and fueled national debate over border security and humanitarian obligations, including the role of municipal institutions. The outcome of the rallies and the subsequent parliamentary debate could shape Spain’s approach to migration and inter-party relations in the months ahead.
