While Spanish authorities continue efforts to restore order in Ceuta following a migrant incursion that has reportedly claimed 72 lives, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has remained on holiday with his family in Lanzarote.
Newly published photographs show Sánchez swimming near the official residence of La Mareta after arriving on the island aboard a Spanish Air Force Falcon aircraft.
Sánchez visited Ceuta on Friday, July 31, alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, where the pair were met by protesters calling for the prime minister’s resignation. After the brief visit, Sánchez travelled to the Canary Islands as originally planned, despite the continuing emergency and growing political criticism over the government’s handling of the situation.
Reporting also notes that the PM’s family holiday comes as legal proceedings involving members of his family continue. Sánchez’ brother, David Sánchez, has been sentenced to a period of disqualification from holding public office in a separate case, while his wife, Begoña Gómez, is expected to face trial over allegations including embezzlement and influence peddling. The accusations against Gómez have yet to be proven in court.
It’s not all bad news! According to OKDIARIO, Sánchez could temporarily interrupt his holiday—not to return to Ceuta, but to attend the total solar eclipse on August 12 at the Yebes Observatory in Guadalajara. Although the visit has not been officially confirmed, the observatory has been designated as the national centre for broadcasting the event, with multiple government ministries involved in its organisation.
The contrast between images of the PM’s holiday and the ongoing crisis in Ceuta have fuelled criticism from his political opponents, who argue that the government’s priorities appear disconnected from the challenges facing the country.
