Spain’s left-wing parties have drawn a sharp line with the PSOE over the recent migration surge in Ceuta. They directly blame Morocco for the crisis and demand a firmer response from the Spanish government. While the PSOE has avoided naming Morocco as responsible, its leftist partners and rivals have put the neighboring country’s actions at the center of the debate, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s administration.
Izquierda Unida (IU), a junior coalition partner with a long history of criticizing Morocco, has been especially vocal. IU’s federal coordinator, Antonio Maíllo, has repeatedly pointed to Morocco’s responsibility for the mass entry of around 80,000 migrants into Ceuta over two days. The death toll remains uncertain. Maíllo described Morocco’s actions as “criminal,” sharply contrasting with the PSOE’s emphasis on bilateral cooperation. IU has also submitted a series of parliamentary questions linking the July influx to what it calls Morocco’s “coercive pressure.” The party questions Spain’s security dependence on the US and Israel, both of which supply Morocco and have, information from IU, used the crisis to criticize the Spanish government.
Other left-wing groups in the government, including Movimiento Sumar, have echoed IU’s stance. Sumar accused the “Moroccan dictatorship” of using desperate citizens as use against Spain and insisted that Morocco “cannot go unpunished.” The party also condemned the “repugnant racism” of PP and Vox. It called on Spain to stay consistent with its principles, as reflected in its positions on Gaza and Iran. Más Madrid, represented in the government by Health Minister Mónica García, questioned whether Spain should co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Morocco, citing the latter’s human rights record. Sumar formalized the proposal in a non-binding motion in Congress, seeking to exclude Morocco from the event.
The left’s criticism reaches beyond government partners. Podemos, now outside the executive, has called for Spain to break off relations with Morocco, accusing the Sánchez government of “neglecting its duties.” The party presents the Ceuta crisis as evidence of the EU’s failed “border outsourcing” policy. Left-wing independence parties have made similar arguments. ERC, in particular, described Morocco’s actions as “blackmail” and called for Europe to rethink its border strategy.
For these parties, the debate concerns Spain’s geopolitical position as well as migration. They argue that scrutiny of Morocco’s role opens a broader discussion of EU border policy and the influence of the US and Israel, along with the risks of relying on non-democratic regimes for border control. One Sumar leader described the events as a “hybrid attack” on Spanish sovereignty, allegedly backed by outside powers seeking to undermine the government’s progressive stance. The left also stresses the need to combat the anti-immigrant rhetoric of PP and Vox. It acknowledges, but, that the government’s response in Ceuta avoided the deadly outcomes seen in Melilla in 2022.
As the crisis unfolded, the PSOE held its position, emphasizing humanitarian priorities and cooperation with Morocco. But the left’s insistence on naming Morocco as the basic actor behind the crisis has brought internal tensions to the surface. The issue is set to dominate parliamentary debate, with up to seven ministers scheduled to address Congress this week. The left’s approach differs from the right’s portrayal of the crisis as a security threat posed by migrants themselves. The divide also appears in media coverage. Some reports, such as an analysis of how viral social media rumors fueled the Ceuta border surge, point to the situation’s complexity.
Ceuta’s status as a Spanish enclave on the North African coast has long made it a flashpoint for migration and diplomatic disputes. The recent crisis has revived debate over Spain’s reliance on Morocco for border management and the wider implications for EU migration policy. The left’s calls for a tougher stance on Morocco and a rethink of border outsourcing reflect growing unease within the coalition. They also signal potential challenges for the government as it navigates pressure at home and abroad. The debate could shape Spain’s approach to migration and foreign policy, including its relationship with basic partners in the region.
