Thousands march in Madrid over Ceuta crisis, demanding early election and migrant returns

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday in protest against the Spanish government's response to the migration crisis in Ceuta. The event, the second "March for Dignity" organized by Sociedad Civil Española, began at Plaza de Cibeles and wound its way along Calle Alcalá, Gran Vía, and Calle Princesa before culminating at the "Arco de la Victoria" in Moncloa.

Participants carried Spanish flags and chanted slogans such as "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended," directing their anger at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

The march, attended by around 20,000 people according to the central government and 180,000 as claimed by the organizers, took place without incident despite a heavy police presence. Sociedad Civil Española, a coalition of over 150 civil associations, held the protest under the slogan "For dignity and in defence of Spain." The crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish city bordering Morocco in North Africa, has been exacerbated by over 70,000 migrants crossing into the territory between July 30 and 31, with thousands remaining for weeks.

Opposition leaders, including Far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal and senior figures from the right-wing People's Party (PP), joined the demonstration, demanding the return of migrants to Morocco. Abascal accused Prime Minister Sánchez of failing to defend Ceuta and denounced the government's handling of the situation, alleging that the government had advance warning of the mass arrival and did not act.

The government responded by criticizing the opposition for attending what they termed far-right demonstrations and rejecting accusations of betrayal by the opposition.