Spain's Ceuta immigration crisis draws sharp criticism of Sánchez

In a televised interview on Antena 3's *Espejo Público*, former Spanish UN ambassador Inocencio Arias accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of “total complacency” with Morocco amid the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta. He recalled Sánchez’s 2022 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and said the government’s stance had altered Spanish policy for the first time in 50 years.

Arias warned that Morocco might organize a “green march” on Ceuta or Melilla and criticized the prime minister’s claim that the situation had “normalized” while humanitarian conditions remained severe. He also suggested Sánchez was dependent on regional nationalist parties.

A separate opinion piece echoed the criticism, targeting Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares for failing to confront Morocco and describing the Ceuta influx as the most serious crisis since the 1981 Tejero coup attempt. Both articles highlight political pressure on the Sánchez administration over immigration and Spain‑Morocco relations.