Recent developments linked to the unprecedented rise in the number of irregular migrants arriving from Algeria to the Balearic Islands have exposed a clear case of “double standards” in the political discourse of Spain’s right-wing parties—most notably the Popular Party—in their handling of the migration issue. These parties have been noted for using markedly different rhetoric when addressing Algeria compared to their approach toward Morocco.
While in past years these parties did not hesitate to directly accuse Morocco of engaging in “political blackmail” against Madrid through the migration file, they have chosen silence in the face of the massive influx of migrants from the Algerian coasts, despite official and media data in Spain indicating that the causes are largely tied to political and diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Algiers.
The right-leaning Spanish daily ABC confirmed just days ago that the number of migrants arriving from Algeria to the Balearic Islands has reached “record and historic levels,” pointing out that one of the main reasons behind this surge is Algeria’s decision not to intervene to curb the flows, due to its diplomatic dispute with Madrid following Spain’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a solution to the Sahara conflict.
Although these facts place Algeria squarely at the center of political and security responsibility for the crisis, according to several Spanish media reports, the Popular Party—Spain’s largest opposition party—has instead directed its criticisms at Pedro Sánchez’s government, accusing it of “failing to manage the issue,” while refraining from accusing Algeria of practicing blackmail, as it has repeatedly done with Morocco, alongside the far-right Vox party.
This contrast in political discourse reflects, according to observers, a clear double standard within right-wing parties: Morocco is treated as a political adversary, while Algeria’s role is downplayed despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to its direct responsibility for facilitating migrant departures.
Spanish right-wing and opposition parties have frequently accused Morocco of using migration to exert pressure on Spain, despite the fact that Spain’s Ministry of the Interior has repeatedly acknowledged Morocco’s pivotal role in controlling migration, praising the security and operational cooperation with Rabat that has directly contributed to the decline in migrant arrivals to Spain in recent years, especially via the Canary Islands route.
In just the past two years, Spain has recorded a significant decrease in irregular migration flows thanks to close coordination with Morocco, prompting Madrid to officially describe Rabat as an “essential and indispensable partner” in protecting Europe’s southern borders.
By contrast, migrant flows departing from Algeria toward the Balearic Islands have increased at an unprecedented rate, with official statistics showing that hundreds of boats have reached the archipelago’s shores in recent months. Local authorities have described the phenomenon as among “the most intense in the islands’ modern history.”
Despite these alarming figures, Spain’s right-wing parties continue to ignore Algeria’s responsibility and instead focus their accusations on the Sánchez government, a stance that observers see as a form of “blind political bias,” aimed more at scoring domestic points against the ruling Socialist Party than acknowledging the realities of the migration issue.
Analysts argue that this position ultimately reflects the weight of Spain’s political disputes with Morocco, as the migration file has been repeatedly weaponized to attack Rabat amid past diplomatic tensions. Meanwhile, these same parties turn a blind eye to Algeria’s actions under similar circumstances.
They also point out that this double standard extends beyond political statements into the media discourse of outlets close to the right. Any incident involving Morocco and migration is amplified, while those linked to Algeria are downplayed and framed as merely a “humanitarian phenomenon” or the result of “internal governmental errors.”
