Hundreds of demonstrations took place across Spain in solidarity with Ceuta, demanding a more decisive response from the Madrid government to the crisis affecting the Spanish exclave on the North African coast.
According to organizers and the Spanish press, the mobilizations affected numerous cities, including Madrid, Malaga, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, Barcelona, Valladolid, and Salamanca. The slogan that became the symbol of the protests was "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended," already used in demonstrations organized in the previous weeks in the same autonomous city.
At the center of the protests is the management of the consequences of the entry of thousands of migrants between July 30 and 31. The situation has fueled a fierce internal political debate and new tensions in relations with Morocco, also considering Rabat's historical claims on Ceuta's sovereignty.
In Madrid, one of the main gatherings was held at Plaza de Cibeles, where many participants, many with Spanish flags, called for a stronger intervention by central authorities. As attendance increased, some protesters later moved along Paseo del Prado towards the Congress of Deputies.
The area around the Parliament was guarded by law enforcement, and during the protest, moments of tension occurred. The police intervened to contain some groups, while insults towards Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and calls for his resignation were heard from the crowd.
The initiatives, around 300 according to reports, were promoted by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (Femp), led by the Popular Party. PP and Vox joined the mobilizations, with the participation of their respective leaders Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Santiago Abascal.
The Sánchez government, on the other hand, emphasized the political nature of the protests. However, the initiatives also affected municipalities governed by socialists, signaling a debate on crisis management that goes beyond the traditional majority-opposition divide.
The issue of Ceuta thus remains at the center of the Spanish political clash. The protests combined solidarity with the autonomous city and criticism of the executive, while immigration, border security, and relations with Morocco continue to fuel a debate destined to weigh on the national political agenda.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved