In brief
On 30 July, between 50,000 and 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta within hours; Spain returned about 48,000, with up to 7,000 minors expected to remain.
On 1 August, Sánchez posted an Instagram video sharing a 31-song Spotify playlist, highlighting tracks by Quevedo, Charli XCX and Melani.
The post drew sharp criticism online, with users calling it tone-deaf while Ceuta managed the migration surge; defenders said personal posts do not conflict with crisis management.
Sánchez began his summer holiday in Lanzarote on 1 August, flying on a Falcon aircraft to the official residence La Mareta, with a no-fly zone in place until 24 August.
- 30 JulBetween 50,000 and 60,000 migrants cross from Morocco into Ceuta.
- 31 JulSánchez visits Ceuta, calls the crossing a violation of territorial integrity.
- 1 AugSánchez posts summer playlist on Instagram and departs for vacation in Lanzarote.
The Ceuta crossing
On Thursday, 30 July, between 50,000 and 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by land and sea within hours. Spanish authorities have since returned around 48,000 of them to Morocco, but several thousand are expected to remain, including up to 7,000 unaccompanied minors. Sánchez visited Ceuta on Friday and described the incident as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.
“It is a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.”
The playlist post
On Saturday, 1 August, Sánchez posted a video on Instagram titled "Soundtrack of my summer." Sitting on a white sofa, he told followers he had compiled a playlist of songs he has been listening to most this year.
“This summer I've put together a playlist with some of the songs I'm listening to most this year. It's quite varied - but I think it gives you a good impression of what I'm getting at.”
The 31-track Spotify list, nearly two hours long, includes "El Baifo" by Quevedo, "SS26" by Charli XCX, and "Tantas Cosas" by Melani, alongside classics from Madonna and The Rolling Stones. Over 1,500 users saved the playlist, and the Instagram post received more than 35,000 likes.
Backlash on social media
The timing of the post, with Ceuta still managing the aftermath of the largest migrant surge in its history, triggered an immediate backlash. One user wrote that "they just invaded Ceuta and you're sitting on the sofa talking about the background music of your summer," while another called Sánchez a "shameful president" for prioritizing a playlist over explanations and solutions. Defenders argued that maintaining a personal routine does not conflict with managing a state emergency, and the post's comment section became a political battleground.
Vacation in Lanzarote
On the same day, Sánchez began his summer holiday in Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, flying there on a Falcon aircraft. He will stay with his family at the official residence of La Mareta in Costa Teguise, with a no-fly zone in effect until 24 August for security reasons. The government has not yet released his official agenda.
A recurring tradition
This is not the first time Sánchez has shared cultural recommendations; he has made a habit of posting reading lists, films, and playlists during holiday periods, a practice inspired by former U.S. President Barack Obama. The coincidence with the Ceuta crisis has turned a routine post into a flashpoint, with opposition figures and citizens questioning the prime minister's sense of priority.