Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards flooded the streets of major cities Wednesday evening in a coordinated show of support for the besieged enclave of Ceuta and against Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as the unresolved migrant crisis continues to divide the country, according to multiple Spanish media reports.
The nationwide demonstrations, organized by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), drew participants in more than 300 cities, including Ceuta itself, marking the enclave’s annual celebration of its city day. Protesters demanded Sánchez’s resignation over his government’s handling of what they describe as a migrant invasion that began in late July and has left thousands of migrants still present in the city, according to Spanish news outlets.
In Madrid, the largest rally of the evening filled Cibeles Plaza, with local government estimates placing turnout at 150,000 people, as reported by El Mundo. Spanish government representatives, however, disputed that figure, claiming only 50,000 attended. The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) labeled the protests “partisan” and discouraged participation, the paper noted.
Protesters echoed chants that have become rallying cries among fed-up Ceuta residents in recent weeks, including vulgar insults directed at Sánchez, alongside messages like “Ceuta is not for sale,” “Ceuta is not alone,” and “All Spain for Ceuta.” Many held placards in support of Ceuta and national sovereignty, with emotions running high over the perceived abandonment of the enclave’s residents.
Political Leaders Join the Fray
The Madrid gathering drew significant political firepower, including Santiago Abascal, leader of the anti-mass-migration Vox party. Speaking to reporters, Abascal expressed Vox’s solidarity with Ceuta’s people, whom he said had been “abandoned and betrayed” by Sánchez. He warned that what is happening in Ceuta could be the “future” of other Spanish cities “if we do not rise up to remedy it.”
Abascal launched a fierce verbal assault on the prime minister, accusing him of being a “traitor” serving foreign governments and claiming that Sánchez’s continued tenure represents an “authentic threat” to Spain as a whole.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the centre-right People’s Party (PP), also weighed in, taking to social media to share footage of the massive gatherings. “The dignity that Pedro Sánchez lacks is held by the citizens of this country, thrown into the streets to protect the Nation,” he wrote. “The defense of our borders and of our compatriots we will carry out together, all Spaniards. Long live Ceuta. And long live Spain.”
According to the PP, 1,996 separate demonstrations took place across the country on Wednesday, including 72 at socialist-controlled town halls.
Nationwide Turnout
Beyond Madrid, large crowds assembled in Barcelona, Valencia, Toledo, Tenerife, and Valladolid, among many other cities. Europapress reported approximately 40,000 participants in Seville, 50,000 in Malaga, and 25,000 in Zaragoza.
In Ceuta itself, over 30,000 locals marched through the streets, according to El Faro de Ceuta, marking the enclave’s day with renewed demands for solutions to the crisis and the expulsion of every migrant who remains in the city. Members of Ceuta’s multi-faith communities marched united in defense of the exclave, and local government head Juan Jesús Vivas was reportedly seen at the front of the procession.
The protests were largely peaceful, but Spanish media reported late-night clashes between police and protesters near the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. Local police dispersed the crowd using tear gas and fired rubber pellets, according to El Mundo. Four individuals were detained, including two minors, and four police officers were reported injured during the clashes.
The demonstrations underscore a deepening political and social rift in Spain over immigration policy and the handling of Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on Morocco’s northern coast that has long been a flashpoint for migration. As the crisis continues without a clear resolution, both the government and its critics show no signs of backing down, leaving the future of Sánchez’s administration and the stability of the region hanging in the balance.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/09/03/watch-massive-nationwide-protests-in-spain-against-migrant-invasion-of-ceuta/