The president of the Consejo General del Poder Judicial (CGPJ) and the Tribunal Supremo, Isabel Perelló, called for a clear approach to the ongoing crisis in Ceuta at the opening of the judicial year on 10 September 2026. The situation required a response that safeguards the integrity of Spain’s borders while also ensuring constitutional guarantees, she said in Madrid. Perelló thus identified the situation in the North African enclave as an urgent issue for the judiciary and the state.
Her warning comes amid intense political and institutional debate about responsibilities and resources for border management. On 3 September, following public criticism of decisions in Ceuta, Perelló had called for restraint and stressed that judges were doing their job and that politicians owed them “the greatest respect”. Among those addressed in the debate was the Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whose department plays a key role in managing the situation on the ground. Perelló’s remarks focused on the principle of judicial independence and did not comment on specific cases.
Alongside the CGPJ’s broader assessment, organisational discussions are under way about possible additional staffing in Ceuta. According to information released last week, Perelló briefed the city’s president Juan Jesús Vivas on ongoing assessments of the courts’ workload and on steps to ensure cases can be handled consistently and promptly. No specific decisions on additional judges or temporary secondments were made public; the matter is being examined by the General Council of the Judiciary.
The political dispute over Ceuta has also been playing out in the Congreso de los Diputados since the end of August. MPs are discussing measures to secure the border and support the city. Government representatives favour cooperation with Morocco and nationally coordinated crisis management, while opposition politicians are also calling for swift assistance and clear rules on returns following border crossings. These positions reflect how closely intertwined security, humanitarian and rule-of-law considerations are in Ceuta.
In her speech, Perelló explicitly distinguished between legal and political assessment and judicial responsibility: the legislature sets the framework, while courts apply it and safeguard fundamental rights. She made no predictions about how the crisis would develop. However, the President stressed that trust in institutions is essential for effective action—at the border as well as in the courtroom.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).