Sánchez gives evasive reply to questions on minors roaming Ceuta after recent assault
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded with a brief, non-committal remark when asked about the ongoing presence of minors in Ceuta’s streets following the recent assault.
In the aftermath of the recent assault on Ceuta, a significant number of minors continue to be present in the city’s streets. When the issue was raised in the Congress corridors, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez replied solely with the expression “that, at Vivas,” sidestepping a substantive answer. The response was unusual for Sánchez, who rarely speaks to journalists in that setting.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo questioned Sánchez about his direct communications with Moroccan officials and the details of any discussions regarding the assault, but the prime minister did not address those queries. The exchange highlighted tensions between the government and the opposition over handling the Ceuta situation.
Why it matters
The prime minister’s vague answer raises concerns about the government’s handling of the Ceuta crisis and its communication with Morocco.
How this story developed
- Aug 21 Spanish police detain five suspected migrant smugglers operating from Ceuta
- Sep 8 The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that its communications unit created a confidential dossier ranking dozens of journalists by political orientation and stance toward Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
- Sep 8 Alberto Núñez Feijóo says the government will release a trimmed version of the pre-invasion reports on Ceuta, omitting key details.
- Sep 8 The Council of Ministers scheduled a vote on declassification Tuesday, with the documents to be released to the public on Wednesday.
- Sep 9 Ceuta mayor‑president Juan Jesús Vivas publicly urged the EU to boost funding and security for the enclave’s border.
- Sep 9 The EU approved a financial package for Ceuta border controls and pledged additional Frontex support.
- Sep 9 The interior ministry publicly acknowledged creating the dossier.
- Sep 10 Government criticized for declassifying security alerts and for claiming the warning was only a low‑level WhatsApp message.
- Sep 10 Judge María Tardón filed a request for copies of the declassified intelligence reports.
- Sep 10 Regional economy minister asserted that the national government possessed advance intelligence on the Ceuta crossing and did not implement preventive measures.
- Sep 11 Czech and Hungarian leaders condemned the EU’s emergency aid for Ceuta.
- Sep 12 A police‑commissioned report described Moroccan border police as unusually sparse and granting migrants “total permission.”
- Sep 13 Minister Sira Rego urged autonomous communities to assume responsibility for Ceuta’s unaccompanied minors.
- Sep 13 The foreign minister announced an urgent trip to Brussels for talks with EU officials.
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