Feijóo labels Ceuta crisis a hybrid attack and calls it the epitaph of Sánchez

Accusations of hybrid aggression

The leader of Spain's opposition Partido Popular, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, described the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta as a hybrid attack facilitated by Morocco either through deliberate action or omission. In an interview published on 13 September 2026 by El Mundo, Feijóo argued that Moroccan authorities were aware of the migrant movements and their impact but failed to prevent them. He also assigned co-responsibility to the Spanish government, asserting that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had prior knowledge of the impending arrivals rather than just a potential risk, yet took no preventive action. Feijóo stated that Morocco's aggression will persist until Rabat agrees to readmit the individuals who entered the autonomous city.

“Morocco knew of these movements, knew their impact and did not prevent them. Evidently, the co-responsibility comes from our side: Spain knew not just that risk, but that this was going to happen. It was more than a potential risk. And it did not prevent it either.”

Proposed security measures and institutional roles

Feijóo outlined the steps his administration would pursue, stating that an initial response would involve demanding that Moroccan officials enforce their side of the border. If Morocco failed to provide intelligence or commitments, Feijóo said he would invoke Article 8 of the Spanish Constitution, which tasks the Spanish Armed Forces with guaranteeing national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also criticized Sánchez for underutilizing King Felipe VI in the state response, proposing that the monarch should make an official visit to Ceuta. Addressing Spain's diplomatic position on Western Sahara, Feijóo stated that Sánchez concealed the terms of the policy reversal from parliament. Feijóo added that during a prior meeting with Morocco's prime minister, he had refused to guarantee that a future PP government would uphold Sánchez's bilateral agreements.

“By action or by omission, Morocco facilitated the breach of our border and the breach of our territorial integrity. And Spain, still without knowing why, consented before, during and even now, that our integrity is not restored. If Morocco does not accept the return, the aggression continues.”

Intelligence disputes and election timing

The opposition leader also condemned the Spanish government's decision to declassify intelligence documents related to the Ceuta crisis. He argued that publishing materials involving the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) and the National Police Foreigners Division created a security breach and degraded the institutional standing of state intelligence services. Feijóo alleged that the release was intended to deflect blame onto intelligence agencies for failing to provide adequate warnings. Describing Ceuta as the epitaph of Sánchez's administration, Feijóo asserted that personal considerations had compromised the prime minister's ability to defend sovereign borders. He called on parliamentary partners of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) to bring an immediate end to the legislative term rather than waiting for scheduled general elections in spring 2027.

Evolution of the opposition stance

The public statements follow an evolution in the PP's posture forty days after the late-July border crossings at the El Tarajal perimeter. On 2 August 2026, the party had maintained a measured diplomatic tone that avoided attributing direct responsibility to Morocco. On 11 September 2026, the PP published an official declaration characterizing the border crossings as a hybrid attack involving irregular migration. That declaration responded to statements from Moroccan officials who had accused the PP of exploiting the Ceuta crisis for domestic electoral purposes. Feijóo also rejected transferring migrant minors from Ceuta to the mainland, stating that border security must remain the state's primary focus.