Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Abascal and Bardella call for tighter border controls during Ceuta visit
Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s Vox party, visited Ceuta with Jordan Bardella, who leads France’s National Rally, on Spain’s national day.
They did not attend the official celebrations in Madrid; Abascal said he did not want to share a platform with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, next to Morocco, and migration and border control there remain politically contentious.
Abascal called for the border with Morocco to be militarised and for migrants from Morocco, Algeria and sub-Saharan Africa to be returned to where they entered.
Bardella said Ceuta showed what could happen across Europe if countries did not regain control of their borders, and proposed limiting free movement in the Schengen area to EU citizens.
The two leaders belong to the Patriots group in the European Parliament and share a political programme focused on tighter borders.
The visit came a day before the Spanish king and queen were due to visit Ceuta; no next steps on the leaders’ proposals were stated.
Santiago Abascal and Jordan Bardella called for tighter border controls during a visit to Ceuta on Spain’s 12 October national holiday.
Abascal supported militarising the border with Morocco and called for the return of migrants from Morocco, Algeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
Bardella warned that Ceuta could represent Europe’s future if member states did not regain control of their borders.
The two politicians belong to the Patriots group in the European Parliament and share a political programme.
They visited border facilities at Ceuta’s port and went to the Isabel II viewpoint.
- Who
- Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, and Jordan Bardella, president of France’s National Rally.
- What
- They called for tighter border controls. Abascal backed militarising the border with Morocco and returning migrants to the places they came from.
- When
- 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Ceuta, Spain.
- Why
- They said border controls and national sovereignty needed to be strengthened; Bardella described Ceuta as a warning for Europe.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Abascal and Bardella visited border facilities at Ceuta’s port and went to the Isabel II viewpoint.
The Spanish royal family was due to visit Ceuta, according to La Vanguardia.
- Visit date
- 12 October 2026
- Location
- Ceuta, Spain
- Spanish politician
- Santiago Abascal, Vox leader
- French politician
- Jordan Bardella, National Rally president
- European Parliament group
- Patriots
- Border proposal
- Abascal called for militarising the border with Morocco and returning migrants to their places of arrival
What people are saying
Today Ceuta remains invaded and Spain cannot look away until it fully recovers this city’s freedom, security and dignity
the future of Europe
Sources
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