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Ceuta Day protests spread
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Spain on Wednesday to protest the ongoing border crisis in Ceuta and criticize Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government over its handling of the situation.
“Authorities said around 50,000 people joined the rally in Madrid”
Authorities said around 50,000 people joined the rally in Madrid, and demonstrators waved Spanish flags in other cities including Barcelona, Valencia and Seville.
The protests coincided with Ceuta’s annual official holiday, which is normally marked with celebrations but took place against the backdrop of Spain’s “border chaos,” according to DW.
In Ceuta itself, residents marked the day with chants including “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended,” while the Straits Times reported the demonstrations also took place in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.
Torres: politically motivated
Spain’s territorial policy minister, Angel Victor Torres, told Spanish National Radio that the protests were politically motivated, saying, "This is not to show support for the city of Ceuta or its residents; it is to attack the government of Spain."
BBC coverage described how Spanish opposition parties accuse Sanchez of abandoning residents of Ceuta, while the government says right-wing parties are exploiting the crisis, and it cited a police report saying Moroccan security forces showed "total permissiveness" during the influx.
In Madrid, PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo told the rally that "A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the Government of Spain," while Vox leader Santiago Abascal said Sanchez was "at the service, like a lackey, of the Moroccan regime".
A resident called Lola warned that tensions were rising, saying, "There's a point where this will become a powder keg," as Sky News reported appeals for calm ahead of migrant protests planned across Spain on Wednesday evening.
What’s at stake now
The protests unfolded as life in Ceuta remained disrupted, with DW reporting that around 5,000 migrants still remained in the territory after the end of July crossing, including unaccompanied minors.
“"If we don't do this, there will always be someone tempted to use migration as a tool for political ends,"”
Ceuta’s top official Juan Jesus Vivas urged Spain’s central government to reinforce the border with Morocco, warning, "If we don't do this, there will always be someone tempted to use migration as a tool for political ends," according to DW.
Sky News reported that the government increased capacity at temporary accommodation centres from about 500 places to more than 3,400 and deployed more than 1,600 police, while local groups and political leaders said more needed to be done to keep citizens and migrants safe.
In a recorded video message, Sanchez said his government was using all available resources to restore tranquility for Ceuta’s residents, as DW described, while the BBC said demonstrators called on Sanchez to resign and demanded migrants be sent back or redistributed across Spain.