An opposition leader in Spain has criticized the country’s Socialist Prime Minister over the handling of migrant arrivals in the North African enclave of Ceuta. Santiago Abascal, leader of the Vox party, questioned Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a parliamentary session about potential blackmail by Morocco amid the ongoing border situation in Ceuta.
During the session, Abascal labeled Sánchez a “traitor” and “a dog.” He held up letters spelling “traidor,” Spanish for “traitor,” as he spoke. Sánchez, in a heated response, stated, “I may be a dog, but I have no master.” He then sat down after the intense exchange.
Spain has witnessed significant protests due to the migrant influx in Ceuta. Many critics blame Sánchez for this crisis, accusing him of being overly accommodating to Morocco. On this issue, more than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta in July. Most have returned to Morocco, but many still remain, living in temporary encampments.
Spain’s national intelligence agency issued multiple warnings prior to the mass crossing from Morocco into Ceuta in late July. Declassified government documents reveal that the National Intelligence Center (CNI) alerted the Spanish government’s delegation in Ceuta about planned attempts to breach the border via social media. The alert indicated that groups, with a combined 180,000 followers, planned to attempt crossings at specific times.
The Associated Press also reported that the National Intelligence Center sent a WhatsApp alert on July 29, noting social media calls for a fence and sea assault the following day. These revelations shed light on the scale and organization behind the migrant movements.
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