Thousands protest in Madrid over Ceuta migration crisis management

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Madrid on Saturday to protest against the Spanish government's handling of the ongoing migration crisis in the North African exclave of Ceuta. Participants, carrying Spanish flags and chanting "Ceuta is not for sale," accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to protect national borders and demanded the resignation of the government and the calling of early general elections.

The crisis originated on July 30 and 31, when over 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta. While the majority returned shortly thereafter, thousands remained in the city for several weeks, straining local resources and creating a significant political challenge for the Socialist administration. The protest was organized by the Sociedad Civil Espanola platform and received formal support from the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party.