Outside Spain’s Congress of Deputies, protesters surrounded and shouted at a Televisión Española journalist demanding action over Ceuta’s migrant crisis. The crowd chanted "prensa española, manipuladora," and police escorted the reporter away. Spanish media reported that the journalist was insulted, shoved, spat on and nearly assaulted before officers intervened.
The incident came as rallies took place across Spain, called by the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP) to coincide with the Día de Ceuta. Organizers said the aim was to show support for the city, but the protests instead exposed deep political divisions. Reuters reported similar demonstrations in Barcelona, Bilbao and other cities. Madrid drew the largest crowd, with chants against migrants and the government.
Official estimates of the Madrid protest varied widely: the Delegación del Gobierno cited 50,000 attendees, while the city council put the figure at 150,000.
The Madrid protest drew added attention because Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Vox president Santiago Abascal attended. Their presence gave the event a clear political edge, drawing strong criticism from the PSOE. The Socialists called the FEMP’s move unilateral and accused organizers of using Ceuta’s crisis for political purposes. Spanish outlets El Diario and Antena 3 noted that the opposition leaders’ attendance added to the sense of political maneuvering.
In response, several PSOE-led municipalities, including Valencia, Huelva, Córdoba and Cádiz, held their own rallies. These gatherings emphasized institutional unity and rejected what organizers called "partidismo" in the face of Ceuta’s humanitarian emergency. El País reported that more than 260 municipalities joined the FEMP’s actions, but the Socialists criticized the format as one-sided and political.
Meanwhile, frustration in Ceuta has spilled into the streets. Thousands marched with banners demanding real solutions from national and regional authorities. Many said symbolic gestures were not enough.
The crisis has prompted Spain to request assistance from Frontex and Europol, while Italy has extended border controls with Spain in response to the surge in migration. The Spanish government recently announced a €165 million emergency aid package for Ceuta. Minister Ángel Víctor Torres said all migrants who entered illegally during the crisis would be returned in accordance with the law.
The unrest in Madrid is the latest sign of a crisis that has already brought large numbers of Ceuta residents into the streets. As reported earlier, the city faces intense pressure, with local leaders warning of neglect and an ineffective response. Reuters and other international sources report long, large-scale demonstrations in Ceuta, reflecting the depth of local frustration.
In Madrid, the incident involving the TVE journalist has become a symbol of the breakdown in public debate. The need for police to protect reporters at a protest points to growing distrust between citizens and the media, and among Spain’s political institutions. El Mundo and El Diario report that attacks on journalists remain rare but have become more common as tensions rise.
The decision by opposition leaders to headline the Madrid rally, while the government and its allies organized separate events, shows how little agreement there is. When journalists are targeted and solidarity breaks down along party lines, Spain’s response to the crisis loses credibility.
