On August 21, 2026, during a political talk show on the Spanish television channel La Sexta, commentator Fernando Sánchez-Dragó made controversial remarks calling for the 'destruction' of Morocco. The comments, which were broadcast live, quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from Moroccan officials and Spanish politicians.
In a segment discussing Spain-Morocco relations, Sánchez-Dragó said, 'The only solution is the destruction of Morocco as a state.' The remarks were condemned by Morocco's ambassador to Spain, who called them 'incitement to hatred and violence' and demanded a formal apology from the network.
La Sexta issued a statement distancing itself from the comments, saying they 'do not reflect the editorial line of the channel' and that it 'regrets any offense caused.' However, the network did not announce any disciplinary action against the commentator, sparking further criticism from media watchdogs.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the remarks as 'unacceptable' and stressed the importance of maintaining 'respect and friendship' with Morocco, a key partner in migration control and trade. The incident has reignited debates in Spain about the limits of free speech and the responsibility of broadcasters in preventing hate speech.
As of August 22, 2026, no formal legal action has been announced, but Moroccan human rights groups have called on Spanish prosecutors to investigate the case under hate speech laws.
