Pedro Sánchez has defended his government's position on Morocco during the Ceuta migrant crisis, calling it the only realistic partner for returning most migrants who crossed into the Spanish enclave.
The approach has little support. Neither the opposition nor Sánchez’s coalition partners have endorsed his strategy, and recent polls show little public approval. The government’s decision not to challenge Morocco over reports that Moroccan border guards stood by during the mass entry has drawn further criticism. Sánchez argued, “From a pragmatic point of view, we need to build a positive relationship to solve this problem and prevent it from happening again.”
Information from Reuters, Spanish intelligence warned both Madrid and Rabat of plans for a mass crossing into Ceuta just one day before over 70,000 people entered the enclave.
Reuters
In a televised interview on La Sexta, Sánchez also criticized Spain’s intelligence agency, the CNI, for not escalating warnings about the situation in Ceuta. He said internal communication failures had made an already tense situation harder to manage.
Opposition parties, especially PP and Vox, have questioned Sánchez’s motives. They point to the Pegasus spyware scandal, which compromised Sánchez and several ministers, and suggest Morocco may have sensitive information about the Prime Minister. The European Parliament’s investigation named Morocco as a “possible” perpetrator, but Sánchez dismissed these claims as fiction, saying, “Reality is built on facts, not rumors.”
Meanwhile, the government expects the situation in Ceuta to stabilize by the end of the year. Minister Ángel Víctor Torres is overseeing the response. Emergency accommodation for migrants is expanding to 6,000 places this week, with a target of 10,000 if needed. Officials have declined to say how many migrants remain in Ceuta, arguing that an exact number is impossible to provide. Sánchez claims that “nine out of ten” who entered have already left, but the lack of clear data has prompted further skepticism.
The European Commission has allocated €114.7 million in emergency funding to Spain to help manage migration pressure in Ceuta. The Commission described the crisis as a test for the EU's border management and crisis response policies.
European Commission
La Moncloa’s official position is cautious. The government says that without “solid evidence,” provoking a major conflict with Morocco would be reckless. Critics, but, see this as too deferential and lacking accountability. The crisis has exposed weaknesses in Spain’s border management and shown the limits of its diplomatic influence with Rabat.
As political debate continues, the Ceuta crisis has become a test of leadership and trust. The government’s handling of sensitive information and its decision to prioritize diplomatic ties over public opinion have come under close scrutiny. In a divided political climate, Sánchez’s bet on cooperation with Morocco may bring short-term calm but risks deepening mistrust at home. The situation echoes unresolved tensions in other Spanish cities, as reported earlier in Bilbao’s recent leadership transition.
