At the start of 2025, Spain’s political landscape took on a new dynamic. Ayuso (Isabel Díaz Ayuso) declined to meet with Sánchez (Pedro Sánchez) at the prime minister’s residence, issuing a direct challenge to the head of government. This move set the tone for the year ahead, which would prove to be rich in high-stakes events and political confrontation.
By year’s end, public attention was riveted by a high-profile court ruling: the country’s Attorney General was found guilty in a case brought by Ayuso’s associates. This was not only a political triumph for the president of Madrid, but also a heavy blow to Sánchez’s reputation. Throughout the year, Ayuso’s name dominated headlines, and her rivalry with the prime minister became one of the nation’s most-discussed topics.
Political battles
Ayuso’s team rallied around her, with her adviser Miguel Ángel Rodríguez standing out in particular. He rarely appears in public, but his posts on social networks always generate a strong reaction. Rodríguez makes no secret of his animosity toward Sánchez and is convinced the prime minister will sooner or later end up in the dock on one of the corruption cases surfacing around the government leader.
The phrase “pa’lante,” which Rodríguez directed at prosecutor Álvaro García Ortiz, at first sounded like a simple threat. However, after the prosecutor was convicted of leaking confidential information, those words took on new meaning. This story contains multiple versions and interpretations, but one thing is clear: it all began when Rodríguez spread false information about why the prosecution declined a plea deal with Ayuso’s associate, Alberto González Amador.
Scandals and accusations
Ayuso has become the most prominent voice against Sánchez, often overshadowing even the official opposition leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Madrid media loyal to the regional president openly back her ambitions. Behind the scenes, there’s constant talk that Ayuso and her team dream of moving into the prime minister’s residence—even though, to date, no Madrid regional leader has managed to make that leap on the national stage.
Over the past year, both sides have been caught up in a series of scandals. Two close allies of Sánchez, José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán, have come under investigation and even served time in jail for corruption cases. A third, Paco Salazar, was forced to leave the party after facing harassment allegations. Ayuso herself also faces trouble: her partner, González Amador, is under investigation for tax fraud and awaiting trial.
Daily confrontation
The standoff between Madrid’s administration and the central government has almost become routine. Every Thursday, after the regional cabinet meeting, Ayuso’s press secretary Miguel Ángel García Martín appears before journalists and launches into sharp criticism of Sánchez. Within minutes, he manages to accuse the prime minister of authoritarianism, corruption, and moral decline.
Some of these conflicts seem manufactured and serve only to fuel political rivalry. For example, the debate over installing a commemorative plaque on the Madrid administration building honoring victims of the dictatorship sparked a storm of emotion. Ayuso is adamantly opposed to this move, considering it a personal insult, though her stance is far from universally shared.
Internal party divisions
Not everyone in the leadership of Partido Popular is thrilled with Ayuso’s activism. Some political analysts believe her hardline nationalist approach risks alienating voters in other regions, where such rhetoric is seen as a sign of centralization and exclusivity.
In the past, Spaniards were more likely to support moderate leaders such as the Galician Mariano Rajoy or Valladolid native José María Aznar, who even rejected affiliation with the right and positioned himself as a centrist. Today, politics have swung to the right, but whether Ayuso can become a figure of national stature remains an open question.
