Across Spain, more than twenty municipalities governed by PSOE and IU have announced alternative rallies in support of Ceuta, distancing themselves from the protest called by the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP) and the Partido Popular (PP). Set for Wednesday evening, the FEMP demonstration has drawn criticism from other political groups for being organized without consensus, deepening the political divide over how to express solidarity with Ceuta.
In Andalusia alone, at least 14 towns, including Espartinas, Los Palacios, Moguer, Bonares, Santa Olalla del Cala, Armilla, Íllora, Cúllar Vega, Salar, Chiclana, Grazalema, Trebujena, Úbeda, and Adamuz, will hold their own events. Similar initiatives have emerged in Castilla y León, the Comunidad Valenciana, and Extremadura. Many municipalities have deliberately scheduled their rallies at different times or on different days from the FEMP protest to avoid overlap and signal their disagreement with the approach taken by the PP and FEMP leadership.
Local leaders argue that the FEMP’s call was not coordinated with all parties and risks turning a show of support for Ceuta into a political confrontation. In Espartinas, socialist mayor Cristina Los Arcos scheduled a midday event on Ceuta Day, saying the gathering is solely to recognize the people of Ceuta, without political slogans or objectives. Los Arcos and Gema Gamir, the local councillor for Social Policies and a native of Ceuta, promoted the event on social media and encouraged residents to participate. Organizers stress that their actions are not an act of defiance against the PSOE’s Andalusian leadership, which has advised against joining events it sees as politically instrumentalized by the PP.
Other mayors share this stance. Loli Cañavate, the socialist mayor of Armilla, said the rally is focused on solidarity rather than party politics. In Moguer, mayor Gustavo Cuéllar said he had received no restrictions from the party leadership and described the demonstration as part of a tradition of supporting freedom of expression and assembly. He also called for greater cooperation between administrations to address challenges linked to migration, noting that Moguer’s population swells during agricultural seasons and strains local services.
In Grazalema, mayor Carlos Javier García used social media to clarify that the town’s participation is intended to reject ongoing political confrontation and support Ceuta, not serve as a political tool. Adamuz mayor Rafael Moreno described the midday rally as institutional and focused solely on supporting Ceuta, without political connotations. Úbeda’s PSOE-led council will host a manifesto reading at La Central, aiming to provide an open, non-partisan event where citizens can express their support for Ceuta.
IU-led municipalities have also scheduled separate rallies. Los Palacios y Villafranca mayor Juanma Valle has called for a unified response from all public administrations to the Ceuta crisis. IU federal coordinator Antonio Maíllo, PSOE-A secretary general María Jesús Montero, and Adelante Andalucía’s José Ignacio García confirmed they will not attend the flag-raising for Ceuta in the Andalusian Parliament, which they view as a unilateral, politically charged event organized by the PP.
Alternative rallies are planned in other regions, too. In León, mayor José Antonio Díez (PSOE) will join a civil society-led event for Ceuta. In the Comunidad Valenciana, Sagunto’s council will hold a midday rally featuring a manifesto and a minute of silence for those who died on July 30. Gandía’s council has also called an institutional rally; Vox was absent from the planning meeting. In Extremadura, Mérida’s socialist government will host a “Mérida con Ceuta” rally in Plaza de España, while Almendralejo’s council has emphasized that support for Ceuta should not become a source of political division.
The alternative rallies reflect local governments’ efforts to express solidarity with Ceuta while resisting what they see as the issue’s politicization by national parties. The debate over how to support Ceuta has exposed deep divisions in Spain’s political field and echoes earlier tensions over migration and border policy. As noted in a related report, Ceuta’s calls for nationwide support have repeatedly highlighted the challenges of forging unity across party lines during times of crisis. The current standoff shows how difficult it is to balance institutional solidarity with political interests, as migration and border issues remain at the forefront of Spain’s national debate.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration and border security concerns. Its unique position has made it a symbol of Spain’s territorial integrity and the broader challenges facing the country’s migration policy. The recent surge in political activity around Ceuta reflects ongoing debates about how best to manage solidarity and security, while fostering cooperation among Spain’s diverse regions and political actors.
