Spanish right-wing parties make Ceuta migrant crisis central to election campaign
The migrant crisis in Ceuta, where over 70,000 migrants arrived in July, is a major campaign focus for Spain's right-wing parties ahead of the November 29 general election. Locals express frustration with the government's handling, accusing it of weakness towards Morocco and abandonment of the territory. Right-wing leaders have visited Ceuta pledging to restore order, while Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces criticism for his response.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-07-30
The migrant crisis in Ceuta has become a central issue for Spain’s right-wing parties in the run-up to the November 29 general election. In late July, more than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, overwhelming the city of around 80,000 inhabitants.
Many migrants returned to Morocco quickly, but thousands remained in difficult conditions, fueling local anger. Residents like Mari Carmen Mata and Ruben Gonzalez express strong dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government, accusing it of failing to act decisively and of showing weakness towards Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Ceuta.
The conservative People’s Party (PP), which has governed Ceuta for over 25 years, is using the crisis to criticize the Socialist government. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo visited Ceuta first on his campaign trail, promising to restore normality. Vox leader Santiago Abascal also visited Ceuta on Spain’s national day, accompanied by France’s far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella.
Political analysts describe the migrant influx as a hybrid attack, alleging Morocco deliberately allowed the surge to challenge Spanish sovereignty, a claim denied by both Morocco and Sanchez’s government. Sanchez has not returned to Ceuta since his brief visit on July 31 and did not join the royal visit last week.