Migration Crisis in Ceuta: Majority of Spaniards Disapprove of Sanchez Government's Management

Monday 07 September 2026 - 10:11

The migration crisis that shook Ceuta at the end of July continues to weigh on the political debate in Spain. According to a survey conducted by the 40dB institute for El País and radio SER, a majority of Spaniards severely criticize the way Pedro Sanchez's government responded to the massive influx of migrants.

The survey, conducted with 2,000 people, reveals a significant gap between the perception of responsibility for the crisis and the evaluation of government action. Nearly nine out of ten respondents identify Morocco as the main culprit for the events that occurred in Ceuta.

Morocco Largely Blamed as Responsible

According to the study, 89% of respondents attribute the largest share of responsibility for the crisis to Morocco. Smuggling networks follow, cited by 75% of respondents, while misinformation spread on social media is mentioned by 74%.

Migrants attempting to cross the border are identified by 73% of those surveyed. The Spanish government is also among the actors considered responsible, with 72% of responses.

These results come as Madrid continues to contest the idea that Moroccan authorities organized or orchestrated the mass crossings of the border. The Spanish government seeks to distinguish political responsibility from any accusations of direct involvement in migration movements.

Sanchez Penalized in Public Opinion

The main difficulty for the Spanish executive lies in the assessment of its own management of the crisis. Only 14.2% of participants view the response provided by Pedro Sanchez positively.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe that the government reacted too slowly. This perception could help explain the decline of the Socialist Party in the voting intentions recorded by the same survey.

The result mainly reflects a growing demand for stricter measures on migration, as the government must simultaneously manage relations with Morocco and address the concerns of a segment of the Spanish electorate regarding border control.

Right-Wing Parties Gain Ground, Vox Increases Pressure

The survey also highlights a shift in the political balance of power. The Popular Party (PP) receives 32.4% of voting intentions, compared to 32% in the previous 40dB survey conducted in July. Vox, for its part, rises to 17.8%, up from 17.2% previously.

Together, the right-wing parties reach 50.2% of voting intentions. According to the survey, this is the first time since the beginning of the legislature that a potential alliance between the PP and Vox surpasses the symbolic threshold of 50%.

In contrast, Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party declines to 27.6%, down from 28% in the previous survey. The entire center-left bloc thus falls to 36.1%.

The migration issue seems to particularly benefit Vox. About 27% of respondents consider the far-right party to be the best positioned to handle this issue, ahead of the Socialists at 18.4% and the PP at 13.9%.

Call for Strengthened Border Control

Beyond voting intentions, the survey highlights an evolution in the priorities expressed by Spaniards. Seven out of ten prioritize strengthening border control over prioritizing the protection of vulnerable migrants.

The demand for additional material measures is even clearer: 82% of respondents support strengthening fences and surveillance measures at the Spanish borders.

These figures show that the events in Ceuta are no longer just a one-off crisis at the border. They now fuel a broader political confrontation over Spain's migration policy, control of its North African territories, and the government's ability to respond quickly to emergency situations.

For Pedro Sanchez, the stakes thus go beyond merely managing a migration episode. The Ceuta crisis represents a new political test that could permanently alter the electoral balance in Spain.