Ceuta migrant crisis draws thousands to Madrid protest

Thousands of people rallied in Madrid on Saturday against the Spanish government's handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta, calling for stronger border protection and an early general election.

Demonstrators waved Spanish flags and marched through the centre of the capital. The central government's representative in Madrid put the turnout at about 20,000, while organisers said 180,000 people took part.

Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, has faced a humanitarian and political crisis since more than 70,000 migrants arrived from neighbouring Morocco on July 30 and 31. Most returned within hours, but thousands have remained for weeks, many sleeping on the streets.

The protest was organised by the right-leaning civil society platform Sociedad Civil Espanola and backed by the conservative People's Party and far-right Vox.

A manifesto from the group called for an early general election by November 15, the return to Morocco of all migrants who entered Ceuta and for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to be tried for “treason”. Spain's next general election is due by August 2027.

People's Party parliamentary spokesman Miguel Tellado accused the government of negligence and said “the majority of Spaniards are calling for an election now”.

Daily newspaper El País reported that the government plans to approve a decree on Tuesday to accelerate the return of migrants from Ceuta to Morocco. The report said the measure would shorten the time allowed to decide asylum applications and limit applicants' ability to remain in Spain while their cases are considered.

The government has increased capacity at temporary migrant shelters in Ceuta, deployed hundreds of police officers and soldiers and boosted funding for the territory's government. Local groups and opposition parties say those measures are not enough.