Spain's opposition fills the streets over Ceuta as Sánchez denies proof of Moroccan planning
Rallies called by Partido Popular- and Vox-led city councils drew more than 50,000 people in Madrid on Wednesday, along with a large demonstration in Ceuta itself, over the government's handling of July's migrant border rush. The protests followed a police report saying Moroccan forces showed total permissiveness during the crossings. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament no institution has given his government solid proof that Morocco planned or carried out the rush, while acknowledging Moroccan gendarmes let crossings continue for ten hours on 30 July.
Geopolitics··Evening
Opposition rallies draw tens of thousands across Spain
Rallies called by city councils run by the Partido Popular and Vox drew crowds across Spain on Wednesday over the government's handling of the Ceuta migration crisis, days after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Morocco was not responsible for the July border rush; more than 50,000 people gathered in Madrid, according to government figures. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who attended the Madrid rally, said a Spanish city had been invaded and occupied with the government's knowledge, while Vox leader Santiago Abascal accused Sánchez of serving Moroccan authorities. Demonstrators called on Sánchez to resign. A large rally also took place in Ceuta itself, where participants chanted that the city is not for sale.[1], [2]
A police report finds total permissiveness by Moroccan forces
The rallies came the same day a police report said Moroccan security forces had shown total permissiveness during the crossings. The report, submitted to the National Court by the National Police's immigration and borders centre, said Moroccan police deployment around the border was clearly smaller than usual and cited migrants who described a passive attitude during the crossings; it does not directly accuse Morocco, which denies orchestrating or being involved in the mass crossing. At least 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July; most have since returned, but as many as 5,000 remain in makeshift camps, on the city's streets and on the beach.[1]
Sánchez tells parliament his government has no solid proof of Moroccan planning
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told Spain's lower house that no institution has given his government solid proof that Morocco planned or carried out the July Ceuta border rush, while accepting that Moroccan gendarmes let crossings continue during a ten-hour window on 30 July. He said the government has not established whether that was deliberate inaction or an inability to cope with the numbers, and he asked King Felipe VI to visit Ceuta and Melilla as a show of state support for the two cities.[2]
