An opposition leader in Spain has accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of mishandling the situation involving migrants in a North African enclave. Santiago Abascal, the head of the Vox party, questioned whether Sánchez was being influenced by Morocco during a parliamentary session. Abascal called Sánchez a ‘traitor’ and ‘a dog’ during his remarks.

During the heated exchange, Sánchez replied, ‘I may be a dog, but I have no master.’

Abascal further emphasized his position by holding up papers that spelled out ‘Traidor,’ which translates to ‘Traitor’ in Spanish. This dramatic moment occurred as Abascal and Vox spokesperson Pepa Millan attended a plenary session in Madrid.

The influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has led to widespread protests. Critics are holding Sánchez responsible for the crisis, with some accusing him of appeasing Morocco.

In July, over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta, with many returning to Morocco. However, a significant number remain in the area, living in temporary camps on the beach. The Spanish national intelligence agency had sent multiple warnings regarding the potential mass crossing from Morocco into Ceuta. Declassified documents revealed that an alert was sent via WhatsApp to Spanish government officials in Ceuta a day before the crossing occurred. The message highlighted calls on social media urging an ‘assault on the fence and by sea,’ showing the scale of the operation, which included two groups with a combined following of 180,000 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.