Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Address Ceuta Migrant Crisis in Congress

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will appear before the Congress on September 3 to address the crisis in Ceuta following the entry of approximately 80,000 migrants on July 30. The appearance was scheduled after Sánchez requested to testify, a move that led the PP to withdraw its own urgent request for his appearance. While the PSOE has defended the government's management of the situation, opposition parties and some allies have criticized the Prime Minister for his absence during the first three weeks of the crisis. In the Congress, the Diputación Permanente rejected several urgent requests from the PP for other ministers to testify on matters including migrant regularization and the role of the Guardia Civil.

On the ground in Ceuta, the government has published a royal decree declaring a situation of national security interest. This decree establishes a single command led by Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, which will remain in effect until December 31. Meanwhile, the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, has strongly opposed the use of sports centers to house migrants. Vivas proposed a plan to enable 11,300 reception places to avoid using these facilities and has demanded that the state take responsibility for 4,000 minors. Additionally, the Attorney General, Teresa Peramato, is scheduled to visit Ceuta to meet with local officials and visit a center for minors.

Political tensions remain high as the PP and Vox have organized parallel protests in Brussels to seek a European response. Furthermore, former Prime Minister José María Aznar is traveling to Ceuta this Thursday. His visit is seen by some as a challenge to the current government's strategy of collaboration with Morocco. While center left sources highlight Aznar's history of firmness during the Perejil conflict, center right sources emphasize the ongoing need for a defined plan to return migrants and the perceived vulnerability of the southern border.