Over 73% of Spaniards value Morocco ties as border security concerns rise

More than 73% of Spaniards consider friendly relations with Morocco important, while over 82% support stronger border security, according to a survey released Monday, September 14, by Spain’s government-run Center for Sociological Research, known as CIS.

The findings follow the mass migrant crossings into Ceuta in late July, events that more than 97% of respondents said they knew about.

Over 63% considered cooperation between Madrid and Rabat important for securing the borders of Ceuta and Melilla. More than 14% described the cities’ status as ambiguous or exceptional and said it should be addressed through agreements with Morocco.

The survey also placed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Workers’ Party first in estimated voting support, at 31%, ahead of the opposition People’s Party on 25.5%. The far-right Vox party stood at 16.6%.

That gives the Socialists a 5.5-percentage-point lead over Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s People’s Party. The figures do not, by themselves, establish how the Ceuta crossings affected support for either party.

More than 67% of respondents believed foreign countries or international actors were trying to create problems or misunderstandings between Spain and Morocco.

The reported findings included accusations against U.S. and Israeli actors. These responses reflect public perceptions and do not establish evidence of foreign interference.

Domestic concerns also featured prominently. More than 78% said wildfires, including those experienced during the summer, worried them greatly. About three-quarters expressed concern about the future effects of forest fires on themselves and their families.

Housing and daily living concerns led the reported list of problems respondents wanted the government to address, at more than 19%, followed by economic issues, immigration, extremism, fraud and corruption.