Hundreds of people rallied outside government offices in Ceuta on Sunday evening to protest what they described as official inaction over a surge of migrants into the Spanish territory. Although the demonstration’s organizers criticized both the migrants and the state’s response, the bulk of the chants were directed at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“They invaded us, and the government abandoned us,” said Jesús Carillo, 36, a pastry worker with a Spanish flag draped around his waist. “Ceuta is where Europe begins.”
Others in the Spanish exclave on the North African coast echoed his frustration.
“We’ve spent four days hunkered down at home,” said Gema Rondón, 51, a mother of two who said she had been afraid to step outside. “I’d like to help all the migrants, but opening the door so they live like dogs — and us too?”
Although most of the migrants have returned to Morocco, Ceuta is still grappling with the aftermath of an influx of at least 50,000 people, most of whom were young Moroccan men. The migrants surged into the city late last week, overwhelming its 84,000 residents. At least 72 people died trying to cross the border, the Spanish government said on Sunday.
Ceuta was peaceful on Sunday before the rally, with families strolling along the main shopping streets and people sipping tea at outdoor cafes. A 50-meter-long sea barrier has been installed near the border between Ceuta and Morocco, and the crossing was empty save for a dozen or so Spanish soldiers and a few local residents who were waiting for a taxi back to the city center.
But while the immediate crisis had eased, the political fallout seemed to be only gaining steam. Opposition leaders and far-right politicians have arrived in Ceuta over recent days, portraying the influx as proof that Mr. Sánchez had lost control of the country’s borders and turning the crisis into a broader battle over immigration and national identity.
The rally was organized by Vito Quiles, 25, a right-wing commentator known for aggressive street interviews of left-wing politicians. While greeted with cheers by his young followers, his presence exposed deep divisions among the local population. Mr. Quiles spent only five minutes at the demonstration before police and security officers escorted him away as a dozen residents chased after him, shouting insults.
Among them was Kika Mohamed, 40, who ran 50 feet behind Mr. Quiles shouting at the top of her lungs. “Fascists out! We don’t want racists here!” she screamed. She accused him of grandstanding ahead of next year’s elections and insisted that it was the local people who had handled the situation.
“We are the ones who defended Ceuta,” Ms. Mohamed said. “We kicked the migrants out.”
Other onlookers shared that resentment, even while agreeing with the rally’s anti-government stance.
“This clown has done nothing,” said Abubaker Mohamed Mohamed, 27, a security guard. Though opposed to Mr. Sánchez, he resented Mr. Quiles taking credit for a crowd that Mr. Mohamed Mohamed estimated at 1,000 people.
“We are the ones who cleaned up Ceuta,” he said. “We are the ones who didn’t sleep, who didn’t eat. And we’re supposed to take to the streets for him?”
But Mr. Quiles was far from the only far-right figure seeking to capitalize on the incident, and presenting the situation in the city as evidence of what they described as the dangers of the current government’s policies.
Spain’s leading far-right politician, Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, arrived in Ceuta hours before the rally, calling the influx an “invasion” and an “act of war” by Morocco, but also blaming Mr. Sánchez and his pro-migrant policies for enabling the crisis. Speaking at a news conference, he said that local residents were within their rights to use “self-defense” if the government did not expel the remaining migrants.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the main conservative opposition People’s Party, traveled to Ceuta on Saturday and blamed Mr. Sánchez for what he called the “occupation” of the city.
The arrival of far-right activists and politicians in the city has angered many residents, a large number of whom are of Moroccan descent.
On Saturday evening, Alvise Pérez, a far-right Spanish politician and a member of the European Parliament who demanded the expulsion of the migrants, faced off against a crowd of residents who accused him of conflating migrants with Muslims and exploiting the crisis to advance his political career. As the crowd grew angrier, Mr. Pérez was forced to seek shelter in a bar as residents pounded on the windows. The police later escorted him away, drawing cheers from the crowd.
“Ceuta united,” they chanted, “will never be divided!”
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