The analysis of Antoni Bassas

Sánchez's explanations arrive when he is already sentenced

It is likely that Sánchez's precise explanations no longer serve much. Because they arrive weeks late, with him on vacation. And because Ceuta is still not well

Miniature column
03/09/2026 - 11:47 h.
2 min

Pedro Sánchez appeared this morning in Congress and began by making a profession of Spanishness: he recalled that the lions at the door of Congress were sculpted from bronze cast from cannons captured in Morocco in the 19th century and that Ceuta and Melilla will be Spanish “until the end of time”.He has built a narrative about the government's response, in fact, he has flooded the chamber with figures, data, days and hours, a flood that he ended up summarizing in one figure: 72 hours after the mass entry, more than 90% of the people who entered, 63,000 people, had already returned to Morocco. And that this had been done in collaboration with Morocco. And that there was no police report warning of what was about to come:And he topped it off: he has ordered the publication of all police documents regarding prevention. He said that the government has nothing to hide.It is likely that Sánchez's explanations will not be of much use, politically. Because they arrive late, very late, weeks late, during which he has been on vacation. And because Ceuta is still not okay. And because the police report that El Español published yesterday points to Morocco, due to the passivity of the Moroccan police, and leaves Minister Marlaska in evidence. Passivity that we all saw. Does the minister not control his police? Does he not have information from the police? Ceuta may be the end of Sánchez's getaway. Our journalist in Madrid, Núria Orriols, says so:“Pedro Sánchez will hardly be able to get out of this one”.And because apart from the right and the far-right, which have long wanted him out of government and in prison, the poor management of Ceuta has left those who are horrified by the probable prospect of a PP and Vox government without arguments.Yesterday evening's demonstrations were about three things: in favor of Ceuta, against Sánchez, and making an apology for the far-right. All three things simultaneously. In what proportions? Ceuta first, yes, but it was the motive that legitimized and justified a protest. Without losing sight of the fact that when we say Ceuta we are talking about two things: the massive influx that the people of the city have been suffering for a month and the disastrous management of the Spanish government. It is a complicated landscape for Pedro Sánchez that we will see what repercussions it might end up having, but it is undoubtedly the biggest dent in the bodywork of a government that has already taken quite a few hits.Good morning.

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