José María Aznar visits Ceuta and demands policy shift after border crisis

Aznar visits Ceuta amid border tensions

Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar visited the autonomous city of Ceuta on Thursday to address the local situation following the entry of over 70,000 migrants in late July. Traveling alongside his wife, former Madrid mayor Ana Botella, and People's Party vicesecretary Juan Bravo, Aznar met with regional president Juan Jesús Vivas at the Palacio de la Asamblea. Aznar signed the city's book of honor in the Salón del Trono before holding talks with members of the autonomous executive. The visit occurred four weeks after the crossings from Morocco, with local authorities still managing thousands of people across the enclave. Aznar delivered an institutional statement directly to assembly members without taking questions from members of the press.

Territorial integrity has been violated.

Demand for political change and deportations

Aznar called for a comprehensive change in national leadership, arguing that the state must provide unambiguous responses whenever national borders are challenged. Aznar gave full backing to the recovery plan and seven measures presented by People's Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, insisting that anyone entering illegally must be returned. He directed implicit criticism at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, noting that national sovereignty does not take vacations during the summer. Aznar emphasized that Spain's border in North Africa is both a national and European frontier that requires permanent stabilization. He warned that governmental weakness always acts as a provocation, urging officials to prioritize the concerns of Ceuta residents over statements from Morocco.

Whoever storms our border cannot remain in national territory.

References to foreign policy and Perejil

The discussions in Ceuta placed significant emphasis on Spanish foreign policy and historical precedents. Aznar called for an external policy that prevents Spain from being left isolated at the mercy of extortion without allies during international crises. During his welcome address, President Juan Jesús Vivas reviewed Aznar's eight years in office, citing his response to the 2002 Perejil Island dispute. Vivas stated that the Perejil episode demonstrated that Spanish sovereignty is non-negotiable and must be defended using all state resources. Vivas added that political figures must either stand fully with Ceuta or serve competing partisan interests.

Clashes and security operations on the ground

Aznar's appearance took place during a period of severe local strain, with approximately 9,000 police officers and military personnel deployed throughout Ceuta to manage public order. Discrepancies remain regarding the migrant population in the city, with central government estimates citing around 5,000 individuals while other reports count nearly 8,000. On Wednesday night, National Police units used tear gas near El Trampolín beach to stop local residents marching toward migrant encampments. Migrants responded to the advance by throwing stones, marking the first direct clash between residents and migrants since late July. Following the beach confrontation, demonstrators blocked streets in the El Zurrón neighborhood to protest government management before dispersing in the early morning hours.