The first scrutiny session after the summer recess, on Wednesday 9 September 2026, was dominated in the Congreso de los Diputados by the situation in Ceuta In the three regular questions to the prime minister, opposition groups focused on border protection, migration management and relations with Morocco. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected the attacks and defended his government’s actions.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, chair of the Partido Popular, accused the executive of failing to protect Spain adequately from irregular entries. Santiago Abascal, the leader of Vox, said the government was not acting independently and pointed to alleged pressure from Rabat. According to consistent reports from the chamber, Sánchez hit back sharply, saying verbatim: “Yo seré un perro, pero no tengo amo.” The government also reiterated that intelligence services and security forces were strengthening their coordination to detect arrivals earlier and tackle people-smuggling.
The session followed the usual format for weekly scrutiny. Under the rules of procedure of the Congreso de los Diputados, questions are submitted in advance and approved by the chamber’s Mesa, to enable the president to give precise, documented answers. Observers note that questions worded neutrally in writing are sometimes sharpened in the chamber; parliamentary rules do not automatically prevent this, but they do structure the right to ask questions and the relevant deadlines.
Sánchez framed his answers as part of a broader strategy: cooperation with Morocco, support for Ceuta and Melilla, and measures against people-smuggling networks. Specific operational details were limited; the government referred to ongoing coordination between the Interior Ministry, the Guardia Civil and the Policía Nacional. Government sources said that returns were carried out “in accordance with the law and agreements”; opposition representatives criticised the lack of transparency and called for further parliamentary scrutiny.
Background: The controversy comes amid heightened political tension, with migration policy and bilateral relations with Morocco dominating the agenda. Spain’s leading media outlets and the government headquarters La Moncloa described the session as the start of the new working year. While scrutiny sessions provide an opportunity for government and opposition to trade blows, experts point out that further scrutiny measures – from detailed interpellations to committees of inquiry – must be requested separately and take place at a later stage.
What is not in dispute is that the situation in Ceuta remains a priority issue for domestic and foreign policy. The effectiveness of the measures reaffirmed by the government on Wednesday will be judged by developments at the border and by agreements with Morocco.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).