The main opposition party in Spain, Partido Popular (PP), has accused the government of lacking leadership during the ongoing crisis in Ceuta. According to the party, no one is effectively steering the country, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is politically constrained.
In a statement published on Tuesday, PP spokesperson Miguel Tellado said that “nobody is at the wheel” in the Spanish government. He also claimed that Sánchez is “tied hand and foot,” according to the party’s official release. The comments came as the PP stepped up its criticism of the government’s handling of the situation in the North African enclave.
The PP has also questioned the government’s focus on external actors. Party figures have criticized Sánchez for suggesting that Israel, Russia, and disinformation campaigns were behind the crisis. One PP representative said the prime minister’s theory bordered on conspiracy, adding that blaming Franco would be the only step missing. Another party member accused Sánchez of trying to deflect attention from Morocco’s role in the dispute.
According to RTVE, the PP believes Morocco is the “elephant in the room” in the Ceuta crisis. The party has also expressed discomfort with the tone Sánchez used when referring to the Moroccan king. In separate remarks reported by ABC, the PP said the government is wrongly exonerating Morocco from responsibility.
The PP’s position appears to be that the government is mishandling both the diplomatic and domestic aspects of the crisis. The party argues that instead of addressing the root cause, Sánchez is blaming distant countries and media reports.
What to watch next: whether the government responds directly to the PP’s accusations and whether Morocco is officially named in any future statements.
