Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, facing criticism from EU counterparts over the migrant surge into Ceuta, said Friday that 'this is not the time to divide,' according to his remarks. The statement comes as the enclave grapples with a massive influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday evening urged unity, saying 'this is not the time to divide,' as he faced pushback from European Union counterparts over the migrant crisis in Ceuta. The brief statement, reported at 18:56 Jerusalem time, did not specify which EU leaders had criticized him.
Earlier today, Sánchez made a series of remarks from Ceuta itself. He described the migrant infiltration as an attack on national sovereignty, called the city's human diversity 'a source of strength,' and reaffirmed his government's commitment to migrant integration. The enclave has seen tens of thousands of migrants cross from Morocco since Thursday, overwhelming local infrastructure and triggering a security and humanitarian crisis.
Sánchez's latest call for unity appears to be a direct response to criticism from EU partners, including Italy and Finland, who have raised concerns about Spain's ability to secure the Schengen zone. The crisis has also drawn sharp domestic criticism, with Vox leader Santiago Abascal calling the surge an 'invasion' and blaming the prime minister.
It remains unclear whether Sánchez's appeal will ease tensions with his EU peers or affect the migration flow, which continues to strain the enclave's capacity.
- StrongSpanish residents curse PM Sánchez, blame him for Ceuta migrant crisis
- DevelopingSpanish PM: We will continue to support migrant integration
- DevelopingSpanish PM Sánchez in Ceuta: diversity is a 'source of strength'
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: European media, political circles increasingly call for isolating Spain over Ceuta crisis
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Open-source intake