Rabat – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has asked to address the Congress of Deputies over the government’s response to the sudden migration crisis in Ceuta, after thousands of migrants reached the Spanish enclave on July 30.
Sanchez has proposed September 9 for his appearance before the full chamber, according to Spanish news agency Europa Press. His request came shortly before the Congress’s Permanent Deputation was set to review a separate People’s Party (PP) proposal for an urgent appearance by the prime minister.
The opposition party has also requested appearances by 10 ministers to answer questions about the crisis. Eight of those ministers already have dates set for hearings before parliamentary committees.
Government spokesperson Elma Saiz said Tuesday that Sanchez was expected to appear before lawmakers, although she stressed that she does not set the prime minister’s schedule.
She described such appearances as a normal part of parliamentary accountability and noted that Sanchez has addressed both chambers of Spain’s Parliament more often than any previous prime minister.
The political pressure comes as Madrid seeks to impose greater coordination on its response to the situation in Ceuta.
Spain’s Official State Gazette published a royal decree on Wednesday that classifies the situation in the enclave as a matter of “national security interest.” The decree creates a unified command and a crisis committee to oversee the response.
The measures will remain in place, initially, until December 31 under the supervision of Minister Ángel Víctor Torres.
The move follows repeated calls from Ceuta authorities for stronger intervention from Madrid as the enclave continues to deal with the consequences of the unprecedented influx.
Morocco has also remained a key actor in the response. Moroccan authorities have taken steps to prevent further crossings and assist with the return of migrants who reached Ceuta, helping ease pressure on the Spanish side of the border.