Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared an Instagram video unveiling his summer playlist as the Spanish army worked to remove tens of thousands of migrants who had crossed into the exclave of Ceuta from Morocco, prompting sharp criticism online alongside renewed debate across Europe over border security.
Spain’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, posted an Instagram reel revealing what he called the “soundtrack of my summer” at the same time as the Spanish army was deployed to Ceuta to respond to a large-scale crossing of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco. At least 77 people are known to have died amid the chaos, as thousands of migrants, most of them young men, scaled or swam past border defences and moved through the streets of the historic Spanish city. The timing of the post drew significant backlash from users online, even as Mr Sánchez separately addressed the unfolding crisis in more sombre terms.
A large-scale crossing into Ceuta
Ceuta, one of two Spanish autonomous cities on the North African coast alongside Melilla, represents one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. Separated from Morocco by a fence that extends into the Mediterranean, the enclave covers just 18.5 square kilometres and has a population of around 85,000, meaning the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of migrants placed enormous strain on local services. Footage circulating online showed large crowds moving through the streets of the small territory, images that sparked alarm and anger across parts of Europe.
In response, Spain reinforced Ceuta with additional military personnel, Civil Guard officers and National Police units to help manage border security, public order and the processing of new arrivals, while naval and aerial surveillance assets were deployed to monitor further attempted sea crossings. Many of those who arrived have since been placed in temporary reception centres, a number of which have already exceeded their intended capacity. Officials describe the surge as among the largest mass-crossing events ever recorded at the enclave, and Spain has been working with Moroccan authorities to strengthen patrols on the Moroccan side of the border to prevent further large-scale arrivals.
Sánchez addresses the crisis
Speaking from Ceuta, Mr Sánchez described the incursion as “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” He said discussions with Moroccan authorities suggested that people-smuggling networks had seized on a particular interpretation of a Spanish Supreme Court ruling to encourage the crossings, and that awareness of this interpretation had subsequently spread rapidly among migrants and traffickers alike. Spanish authorities have since launched formal investigations into the smuggling networks believed to have played a role in organising and encouraging the crossings.
The European Union has reaffirmed that Ceuta constitutes an external border of the bloc, with European institutions voicing support for Spain’s efforts to restore control. Locally, schools, businesses and public services have reported significant disruption as police, the military and emergency services worked to manage the scale of arrivals. Opposition politicians have accused the government of acting too slowly to secure the border, while ministers have argued the situation calls for both firmer enforcement and continued cooperation with Morocco. The episode has also had diplomatic consequences beyond Spain’s borders, with Italy suspending Spain’s access to the EU’s open-border Schengen arrangements in response to the crisis.
The playlist post
Separately, in the Instagram video that drew widespread attention, Mr Sánchez told followers he had put together a summer playlist, describing it as fairly eclectic and highlighting a handful of tracks he said would give a sense of his current tastes, including “SS26” by British artist Charli xcx. He told viewers, “I hope you like it and that it keeps you company during these holidays,” signing off by wishing his audience a happy summer. Although comments on the post were restricted, a heated debate still developed among those able to respond.
A divided reaction online
Criticism was swift from some quarters, with one commenter writing, “Is this real? You have no shame!” Another questioned the authenticity of the video itself, writing, “This is AI, right? Because if not, I’m freaking out.” A third commenter, more bluntly, wrote, “Dude, we’re not here for playlists and all that c***.” Others, however, defended the Prime Minister, with one describing the value of having a leader who communicates directly with the public and wishes them well for the summer, while another wrote, “Spain, take care of your president; he’s a very good person.”
Wider fallout across Europe
Footage of events in Ceuta, alongside the contrast drawn with Mr Sánchez’s social media activity, sparked outrage in various parts of Europe and reignited a broader debate over EU asylum policy, external border protection, the return of migrants and the sharing of responsibility between member states. The crisis, which some have characterised as an “invasion,” has once again placed pressure on the EU’s approach to migration at its external frontiers, with the situation in Ceuta likely to remain a point of contention among member states in the weeks ahead.
