Ayuso labels the penthouse scandal a "trick" of the left: "If I have lied, I resign"

MadridThe day after Isabel Díaz Ayuso appeared for more than two hours in the Madrid Assembly without giving explanations about the luxury penthouse, the opposition's attacks provoked a reaction from the Madrid president after they accused her of "corruption".The penthouse and the chao, pescao will be the epitaph of her political life," declared this Friday the spokesperson for Más Madrid in the regional chamber, Manuela Bergerot. The opposition leader argued that the purchase of the 6.3 million euro property is "the definitive proof" that Ayuso "is corrupt". In the same vein, the PSOE denounced that the leader of the Madrid PP "has thought herself God and has become drunk on power". "The penthouse is a before and after. Her bargain is over, and her political career too," asserted the socialist spokesperson, Mar Espinar.

On the second day of the state of the region debate, Ayuso went from a speech focused on management –yesterday she reeled off a hundred announcements– to getting into a face-to-face confrontation with the opposition with the arrogant tone that characterizes her. The Madrid president once again denied having tried to obtain an official residence in secret. "I haven't wanted it for many reasons. I like living in a community, having neighbors," she stated, although she said that at the same time she would find it fine if a future president of the Community of Madrid had one. "I hope others do not go through the torture that you have tried to put me through," said Ayuso, who labeled the penthouse scandal as a "scam" by the left. "I have never lived in a penthouse, liars. [...] If I have lied, I will resign," she insisted. Ayuso also brandished the official residences of socialist officials. "Twelve ministers and the president of Congress have official housing funded by the State. There are many penthouses," she stated.

Both Bergerot and Espinar have rebutted the triumphalist narrative of the Madrid president, who has also claimed that Madrid is going through its best moment and has boasted about her project in an attempt to exhibit strength and unity—she received applause from her own party even in the corridors of the Assembly—after the luxury penthouse crisis. "You are at your lowest point. Questioned within your own party, for fear that they will do a Cifuentes to you and force you to leave politics through the back door," disagreed the spokesperson for Més Madrid. Bergerot has demanded the declassification of all documents regarding the penthouse and has asked the Madrid Minister of the Presidency to whom Ayuso passed the responsibility, Miguel Ángel García Martín, to "pull the thread" (spill the beans). The controversy will have a new episode next Thursday with the parliamentary appearance of García Martín to talk about the operation.

A questioned model

The Madrid left has not only reproached this affair to the PP, but has also questioned the whole of Ayuso's model. "You are lethal to the well-being of the people of Madrid," Espinar denounced. Outside the Madrid Assembly, there was a demonstration by nursery school workers from the Community, on strike over their working conditions. "The priorities are clear: there is money to hastily build a Formula 1 circuit, but there is no money for the health centers of Parla, Leganés, Aranjuez, Getafe, and Carabanchel Alto to have doctors," lamented Bergerot. In electoral terms, months before the 2027 regional elections, the Madrid left has appealed to the "Madrid of the neighborhoods that is rebelling against the Madrid of the penthouses".

Ayuso has mocked the electoral aspirations of the left, whom she sees as "incapable" of defeating her. The Madrid president has attributed the attacks against her to this "frustration." From Vox –which aspires to crack the absolute majority of the Madrid president, but would be forced to reach an understanding with her– they have also criticized her with a very different argument: they have pointed to immigration and have rejected the "Madrid where all accents fit" that Ayuso claims, and they have avoided making hay with the penthouse.