Around 800 people gathered in Ibiza Town on Wednesday evening in a show of support for Ceuta, according to figures from the Ibiza Local Police.

The gathering took place at the CETIS building from 8 p.m., forming part of a nationwide initiative promoted by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP).

Similar gatherings were also held in Sant Josep, Sant Antoni and Santa Eulària, bringing Ibiza's four municipalities into the initiative.

A Nationwide Call for Solidarity

The gatherings were organised on September 2, which also marks Ceuta Day.

The FEMP called on municipalities across Spain to hold simultaneous gatherings in support of the autonomous city following the migration crisis it has experienced since the end of July.

In Ibiza, the events were led by the island's mayors and mayoral representatives, who read a manifesto issued through the national municipal organisation.

The Gathering in Ibiza Town

The largest gathering on the island took place outside the Citizen Services area at the CETIS building in Ibiza Town.

According to the Ibiza Local Police, approximately 800 people attended.

Spanish and Ceuta flags were visible among the crowd, while the manifesto focused on institutional solidarity with Ceuta and the need to provide additional resources to deal with the situation.

Ibiza Town mayor Rafael Triguero read the manifesto during the event.

Similar Gatherings Across the Island

The initiative was not limited to Ibiza Town.

Marcos Serra, mayor of Sant Antoni, Vicent Roig, mayor of Sant Josep, and Carmen Ferrer, mayor of Santa Eulària, also read the manifesto at gatherings in their respective municipalities.

Consell de Ibiza president Vicent Marí attended the event in Santa Eulària.

The four municipalities therefore participated in the same national initiative on the island.

What the Manifesto Called For

The manifesto expressed support for the people of Ceuta and recognised the work of public-sector professionals involved in responding to the situation, including the armed forces and healthcare workers.

It also stated that Ceuta should not have to manage the consequences of the situation alone, calling for the necessary resources from the Spanish state.

Among its requests was an extraordinary budget to address the impact of the migration crisis on the autonomous city.

The manifesto also called for the return with guarantees of people who entered Ceuta irregularly, presenting this as necessary for restoring normality.

These are the positions expressed in the FEMP-backed statement and do not represent an independent assessment of the wider migration situation.

A Political Dimension

Although the gatherings were presented as institutional acts of solidarity, the initiative has also become part of a wider political debate in Spain.

The Ibiza events received strong support from the People's Party (PP), whose local representatives had called for participation.

The previous day, the Ibiza PP had publicly backed the island's gatherings and encouraged participation.

The events have also generated political disagreement elsewhere in Spain, with the PSOE accusing the PP of attempting to use the gatherings for political purposes, while the PP has defended them as expressions of solidarity with Ceuta.

In Ibiza, however, the official gatherings were conducted through the municipalities and centred on the FEMP manifesto.

Why September 2 Was Significant

The gatherings coincided with Ceuta Day, giving the national initiative additional significance.

They came weeks after a major migration crisis in which large numbers of people entered Ceuta irregularly during July.

The scale and circumstances of that arrival have since become the subject of political debate and official investigations.

Ibiza Joins the National Response

Wednesday's gatherings brought together residents, local officials and political representatives across Ibiza in support of Ceuta.

With approximately 800 people attending the Ibiza Town event, the island formed part of a much wider series of gatherings held across Spain.

The central message of the FEMP manifesto was a call for solidarity with Ceuta and for additional resources to help the autonomous city deal with the consequences of the crisis.

Source: Noudiari