Feijóo turns the concentration in Cibeles in support of Ceuta into an outcry against Sánchez and his management of the crisis: "Now we know who lied to us"

The president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has taken advantage of the massive concentration held this Wednesday in Cibeles square to hold the Government responsible for the massive entry of migrants into Ceuta. Before tens of thousands of people, about 50,000 according to the Government Delegation, the opposition leader has assured that the autonomous city was "invaded" and "occupied" with the knowledge of the Executive.

Feijóo thus closed a day that began for him in Ceuta, where he participated in the events of the Day of the autonomous city together with its president, Juan Jesús Vivas. Already in Madrid, he has reproached Pedro Sánchez's absence in Ceuta and has defended that any candidate for the Presidency of the Government should attend on such a significant date.

"The people of Ceuta are not alone. Spain is with them," he proclaimed before promising that Spaniards will have a Government that protects "the dignity of the nation, the integrity of our territory and national sovereignty." He also contrasted the solidarity expressed in the streets with Sánchez's decision to initially thank Morocco for its collaboration.

The popular leader has maintained that the Government knew about the police warnings issued before the entry of more than 70,000 people on July 30 and 31. According to him, there were reports dated July 27, 28 and 29 that ended up in the hands of the Audiencia Nacional after a judge requested information from the National Police and the Civil Guard.

The known documents include alerts about possible entry attempts and the report from the National Immigration and Borders Center points to the permissiveness of the Moroccan authorities and the actions of agents who would have guided migrants towards the Tarajal breakwater. The text considers that the movement was planned, although it keeps its authorship open. The General Directorate of the Police has also specified that the previous alerts lacked an estimate of the magnitude the entry would reach.

Feijóo has demanded that the investigation of the Audiencia Nacional go "to the end" to find out who promoted, allowed and consented to what happened. The PP has appeared in the case opened by the court and accuses the Council of Ministers of having hidden information. "We already know who lied to us," the opposition leader concluded.

Shortly after his statements, Feijóo transferred his message to the social network X, where he accused Sánchez of lacking the "dignity" shown by citizens and claimed the joint defense of Spanish borders.

Cibeles exceeds expectations

The concentration gathered 50,000 people according to the Government Delegation and 150,000 according to the Madrid City Council. Attendees occupied a good part of the Cibeles roundabout, the beginning of Gran Vía, and several sections of the Paseos del Prado and Recoletos, in an image dominated by flags of Spain and Ceuta.

The mobilization had been promoted by the president of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), María José García-Pelayo, through a manifesto that lacked the usual consensus within the organization. The Popular Party called for support for the concentrations in front of city halls, and the far-right Vox joined them with its main leaders.

Messages of support for Ceuta coexisted from before 8:00 p.m. with insults against Pedro Sánchez, demands for resignation, and banners calling for his imprisonment. The arrival of Feijóo, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and José Luis Martínez-Almeida was met with the cry of "we want to vote", a slogan that was heard loudly again at the end of the event.

Ayuso has called for the immediate resignation of the Government and has accused the Executive of abandoning the people of Ceuta. "They have abandoned us, not only the people of Ceuta, but all of Spain before the eyes of the world," declared the Madrid president, who attributed the crisis to Sánchez's "inaction", "arrogance", and "lies".

Almeida asks for support for Ceuta

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, was the only political leader who spoke from the stage installed in front of the Palacio de Cibeles. Accompanied by his entire Government team, he read the manifesto promoted by the FEMP and defended the Spanishness of the autonomous city.

"The border of Ceuta is the border of all Spaniards and of Europe," Almeida affirmed. The mayor warned of the pressure borne by public services and the city's resources due to the presence of thousands of migrants, while demanding a response from the State and European institutions.

His speech was interrupted on several occasions by shouts of "invasion" and "expulsion to the invader." Almeida concluded with a "Long live Ceuta and long live Spain" answered by the crowd. Afterwards, the anthems of Ceuta and Spain were played, and Cibeles once again demanded elections with shouts of "we want to vote."