Briefing
The leader of the party Vox, Santiago Abascal, spent 12 October 2026 in the city of Ceuta and used his appearance there to launch a fierce criticism of the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and call for the “militarisation of the border”. Abascal told local and national media that he did “not want to sit on a platform full of traitors” and described the executive as Government of traitors. The statements were documented by both Spanish quality media and news agencies, and supplemented by material from the party.
Abascal was accompanied during parts of his visit by Jordan Bardella, leader of the French right-wing party, as several press reports consistently note. In his speeches, Abascal called for the permanent deployment of armed forces and closer operational coordination with local security forces to prevent renewed migration movements towards Ceuta. Reports named state-affiliated bodies and the authorities responsible for Ceuta as the recipients of these demands; the available sources did not substantiate operational details on specific troop numbers or legal grounds for a “militarisation”.
Research found consistent reports in several established media outlets, as well as live coverage and press releases, so the core of the event — Abascal’s presence in Ceuta on 12 October 2026 and his call for an increased military presence at the border — can be considered verified. It remains unclear what specific administrative or legal steps would be required to implement this demand; the reports reviewed contain no binding information on this.
This version corrects previously uncertain attributions, identifies the date, place and key statements by name, and clearly distinguishes substantiated facts from political demands and assessments.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).