Briefing
A special analysis by the polling institute 40dB., with EL PAÍS and the Cadena SER published on 7 September 2026, reports that almost nine in ten respondents attribute Morocco “a lot” or “quite a lot” of responsibility for the serious border crossings in Ceuta at the end of July. According to the media partners, the survey was conducted between 31 August and 2 September 2026; its results therefore reflect public perceptions around a month after the events.
The survey also records a poor assessment of the Spanish government’s response to the crisis: around 63 per cent of respondents rate the crisis management by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez negatively. The study’s authors and the media point out that these are perceptions, not investigative findings about the causes of migration or state responsibility.
Politically, the figures provide ammunition for parties calling for tougher border and security measures; at the same time, government sources stress the need to stabilise relations with Rabat to prevent further incidents. Observers note that surveys such as this can shift the political agenda in the short term and influence voter mobilisation, particularly when debate on migration and security grows more heated.
Methodologically, the study is a snapshot: reliable statements about trends require repeated measurements with documented sample details. The media partners’ published data documentation includes the questionnaire and cross-tabulations; as the survey results are based on self-reported responses, conclusions about causal relationships should be treated with caution.
The special analysis of the 40dB. barometer published on 7 September 2026 shows that the public widely attributes responsibility to Morocco and is markedly dissatisfied with Spain’s handling of the crisis. Whether and how these perceptions translate into political action or institutional decisions remains unclear and will depend on further research and political developments.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).