The Partido Popular (PP) has shifted its public position on the recent unrest in Ceuta, moving from cautious statements to an explicit call for calm and a clear condemnation of all forms of violence in the city. The change follows criticism of the party’s initial reluctance to denounce attacks targeting migrants, which had raised concern among local authorities and national leaders.
The first sign of this new approach came during a session of the Interior Commission, where Jesús Celaya Brey, the PP deputy for Ceuta, addressed the issue directly. He acknowledged the frustration and anger among Ceuta’s residents, attributing them to what he described as government inaction, but insisted that violence and intimidation, whether against journalists or humanitarian workers, were unacceptable and only distorted the reality of who the true victims are in the current crisis.
Shortly afterward, Elías Bendodo, the party’s deputy secretary, reinforced this message, stressing the need for restraint and saying that violence cannot be met with more violence. He called on the government to take responsibility for the ongoing crisis, arguing that the executive’s lack of response had left Ceuta in a prolonged state of uncertainty. Bendodo said the PP understands the desperation felt by the local population but insists that order must be restored through lawful means, not acts of aggression.
The PP’s public correction coincided with a rare moment of unity in Ceuta’s political field. All parties represented in the city’s Assembly, including the PP, signed an institutional declaration rejecting any use of violence. Read by Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, also a member of the PP, the statement said violent actions do not represent the city’s residents and only serve to divide and damage Ceuta’s image.
The government had previously appealed to all parties, especially the PP, which has governed Ceuta for a quarter of a century, to join in condemning the violence. The appeal followed a series of incidents, including the burning of part of a migrant camp on a local beach and attempts to block the Red Cross from distributing food. Ángel Víctor Torres, head of the single command overseeing the crisis, coordinated a joint anti-violence message with Vivas, but further pressure was needed to secure a unified response in parliament.
Initially, the PP had avoided firmly condemning attacks by Ceuta residents against migrants, focusing instead on an incident in which a group of migrants assaulted a military convoy, injuring four officers. Asked about the risk of residents taking justice into their own hands, PP spokesperson Borja Sémper pointed to the desperation in Ceuta and placed responsibility on the government. He reiterated the party’s general opposition to violence but did not address the attacks on migrants directly. Parliamentary spokesperson Ester Muñoz also suggested that residents were simply trying to restore order in the absence of government support.
As the situation in Ceuta grew more volatile, the PP leadership moved to clarify its stance, explicitly condemning violence regardless of the target. The shift marks a impressive change in the party’s rhetoric and aligns it with the broader political consensus in the city. It comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the government’s crisis management, covered by RUSSPAIN in its examination of the political fallout and the role of national authorities in Ceuta’s ongoing challenges. For further background on the government’s response and the political context, see the analysis of Defence Minister Robles’ position on Ceuta’s status and the military’s involvement in this detailed report.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration and border tensions. The recent surge in violence has underscored the fragility of local order and the importance of coordinated political action. The PP’s revised position may ease tensions, but the underlying issues of migration management and social cohesion remain unresolved. Ceuta’s experience reflects broader challenges facing Spain’s border regions, where political and humanitarian concerns often collide with security issues.
