Nine in 10 Spaniards Blame Morocco for the Ceuta Crisis

Nearly nine in 10 Spaniards believe Morocco bears “much” or “considerable” responsibility for the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta during the final two days of July. The finding challenges the Spanish government’s effort to avoid assigning blame to its neighbour.

The special poll by 40dB for El País and Cadena SER also gives Spain’s government a harsh assessment. Around 72% of respondents say Pedro Sánchez’s cabinet bears substantial responsibility for the events. Nearly 63% rate Sánchez’s performance as bad or very bad, including 49.9% who describe it as very bad. Only 14.2% judge his performance good or very good.

The survey covers 2,000 online interviews conducted from Monday to Wednesday of the previous week. It took place before a police report became public pointing to the involvement of Moroccan agents in the mass arrival. That report could increase the share of respondents who hold Morocco’s authorities responsible, the article says.

Negative assessments extend across the government’s handling of the crisis, including cohesion, transparency, effectiveness and speed. Public disagreements between Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Defence Minister Margarita Robles are cited as one sign of the government’s difficulties. The opposition People’s Party and its leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, receive better ratings, but negative views still outweigh positive ones. Vox emerges as the main political beneficiary, as respondents see it as the party most capable of dealing with immigration.