Sánchez Tells Congress Moroccan Gendarmes 'Allowed' the Crossing, Raises Death Toll to 141

A day after tens of thousands rallied nationwide demanding his resignation, PM Pedro Sánchez addresses Congress for over an hour on the Ceuta crisis. He raises the official death toll to 141 — up from the previously cited cumulative 111 — without detailing the new count's methodology. On Morocco, Sánchez acknowledges that during a roughly 10-hour window at the peak of the July 30 crossing, Moroccan Gendarmerie 'allowed the border to be crossed' before regaining control, but insists no institution has given 'solid evidence' the crossing was planned or executed by Moroccan authorities, pledging to 'act with total force' should such proof emerge. He reveals Spain summoned Morocco's ambassador on Aug 21 over 'unacceptable' remarks by two Moroccan ministers questioning Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, says King Felipe VI will visit both cities in coming weeks, and blames disinformation — including Russia- and Israel-linked accounts — for amplifying false claims that fueled the surge. He outlines a five-part response: Europol-backed border reinforcement (€180M), expanded reception capacity toward a 6,000-place target, the €309M economic package plus additional recovery funds, pursuit of EU outermost-region/customs status for Ceuta, and an anti-trafficking push. PP's Feijóo calls him a 'pariah in Europe' who is 'disloyal to Spain' and says he hasn't set foot in the city in a month; Vox's Abascal accuses him of governing 'in the service of a foreign government'; coalition allies Sumar, IU, ERC, EH Bildu, Junts and Podemos call the government's denial of Moroccan state responsibility 'ridiculous' given a police report alleging Moroccan gendarmes guided the crossing.