Defence Minister Margarita Robles’s decision to remain seated rather than applaud Pedro Sánchez’s announcement on Ceuta has sparked renewed political tension. Miguel Tellado, secretary general of the Partido Popular, criticized Robles publicly, calling her "cynical" and accusing her of betraying her judicial principles by remaining in Sánchez’s cabinet.
Tellado went further, linking Robles directly to the government’s response to the Ceuta migration crisis. He argued that her refusal to join the applause did not exempt her from responsibility. In Tellado’s view, Robles’s silence and discomfort during the president’s announcement, as the rest of the ministers stood together, made her complicity more obvious. He said that "pulling faces and clapping half-heartedly" would not protect her from being held accountable. Instead, it exposed her as a "cynic" within the government.
On September 3, 2026, Pedro Sánchez told Congress that the government would publish a dossier containing all documents related to the Ceuta crisis, including reports and communications from the CNI and security forces up to July 30.
The controversy began after Sánchez announced that all intelligence and security reports from before the mass entry into Ceuta would be made public. While most of the cabinet applauded, Robles looked away and stayed seated. Cameras captured her reaction, and the footage quickly spread, fueling talk of divisions within the government.
Robles later told reporters she was proud to serve as Defence Minister and lead the Armed Forces, a role she has held since 2018. She defended her right to express herself through gestures and said her loyalty to the government was not in doubt. Tellado repeated his criticism, describing her as "a judge who betrayed herself" and accusing her of losing political dignity.
The dispute comes as the PP steps up its criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis. Days earlier, party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo had called for urgent action and rallied public support, as reported earlier. By focusing on Robles, the PP is targeting individual ministers along with the prime minister, seeking to increase pressure and highlight possible divisions within the cabinet.
Information from official police materials, the mass entry of over 70,000 migrants into Ceuta on July 30 to 31 was described as "planned" rather than spontaneous. At the time of Sánchez’s announcement, the government’s decision to publish approximately ten basic documents still required approval from the Council of Ministers.
Robles’s background as a judge and her reputation for independence once set her apart in Spanish politics. Tellado’s accusations now aim to portray her as a loyalist who has given up principle for position. The government’s plan to release security reports on Ceuta was intended to demonstrate transparency, but the scene in Congress has instead drawn attention to internal strains. Robles’s refusal to applaud has become a symbol of unease within Sánchez’s team. The PP is using such moments to challenge the government’s image of unity and hold the entire executive, including the prime minister, responsible for the Ceuta crisis.
