Spain’s lower house is expected to pass a law this Thursday granting Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 1977, along with their descendants. Years in the making, the proposal comes at a sensitive moment in Spain’s relationship with Morocco and has exposed divisions among the country’s basic political parties.
Sumar has led the push for the measure during the current legislature. The law targets about 70,000 to 80,000 people born in the former Spanish colony, along with their children, provided they have lived in Spain for at least two years. For decades, these families have argued that Spain abandoned them after withdrawing and Morocco took over, leaving their legal status unresolved. Spanish media report that Congress has scheduled a final vote for September 10, 2026. The measure is expected to pass before moving to the Senate.
This week’s vote is drawing attention because of both the number of people affected and its timing. Relations with Morocco remain tense after the Ceuta border crisis, and the Spanish government has acknowledged concerns about Rabat’s reaction. Still, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the decision belongs to the Spanish Parliament and that Morocco has not formally protested. Official sources say the nationality law is being handled as an internal issue, despite the broader diplomatic context.
Sumar’s campaign has pressed the PSOE to set aside its doubts. Party spokesperson Patxi López confirmed the PSOE’s support, saying Spain should act independently of Morocco’s opinion. The Partido Popular (PP) has shifted its position several times. It first raised procedural objections, then backed the initial proposal. Later, it voted against the committee report and most recently abstained. With the final vote approaching, PP sources say nothing is decided. National media have noted that the party’s changing stance has made its decision one of the most closely watched parts of the process.
Sumar and its allies have criticized the PP’s indecision. Tesh Sidi of Más Madrid, who is of Sahrawi origin, warned that abstaining would show a lack of political courage on a question of national sovereignty. Sumar spokesperson Verónica Martínez Barbero also called on the PP to break with Vox, which remains opposed to the law.
Other government partners, including Compromís, have used the debate to call for the declassification of documents related to Spain’s withdrawal from Western Sahara. They have also called for files on the 1975 Green March to be released. Passage would mark the current mandate’s 75th legislative act, a basic stage the PSOE cites as evidence of parliamentary activity during the election campaign.
The new law will let anyone born in Western Sahara before 29 September 1977, the last date to claim Spanish nationality, apply for citizenship by carta de naturaleza, even without legal residence in Spain. Lawmakers moved the original cutoff from February 1976 to include people who lost their chance because of the rapid Moroccan and Mauritanian takeover. Officials say the extension is intended to address Sahrawis’ unresolved legal status after Spain’s withdrawal.
Applicants must prove their Sahrawi origin with documents such as an old Spanish ID or a UN census receipt for the planned referendum. They may also provide other official Spanish documents showing they were born in the territory before the deadline. Eligible individuals will have three years, extendable to four, to submit applications to the Directorate General for Legal Security and Public Faith. The agency must respond within twelve months; otherwise, the request is considered denied. Applications can also be filed online through the Ministry of Justice’s portal.
The government insists the Ceuta crisis and this nationality law are unrelated, though party insiders acknowledge concern about possible diplomatic fallout. The issue has become a test of Spain’s willingness to set its own legislative agenda despite outside pressure. As recent coverage of Spain’s response to domestic emergencies has shown, the country’s institutions face scrutiny over how they handle challenges at home and across borders.
Spain’s move would settle an administrative question with real consequences for thousands who have waited decades for recognition. The outcome will test the resolve of Spain’s parties and shape the direction of its foreign policy. If the PP supports the measure, it could mark a rare moment of consensus on an issue that has long divided parliament. If it does not, the PSOE and Sumar will claim the initiative, with the risk of further polarization. Either way, the decision will have lasting effects on Spain’s relationship with its history and with Morocco.
