The internal conflict within Más Madrid has escalated to a new level after failed negotiations between Health Minister Mónica García and deputy Emilio Delgado, who is vying for party leadership. According to EL PAÍS, attempts to reach an agreement on equal power sharing ended in a public confrontation at a party event in Madrid.
Both sides had been negotiating since March, hoping to avoid open conflict and preserve unity. However, mutual distrust quickly intensified the situation. The culmination came at the party’s third gathering, when Mónica García announced her intention to run in the primaries. Emilio Delgado, who also decided to run, publicly signaled he was ready to fight. According to García’s aides, his words sounded like a threat, though Delgado’s supporters deny this.
Disagreements over party lists
The key issue was the composition of the candidate lists for the Madrid Assembly. García’s team offered Delgado and his supporters several spots to avoid a split, but refused to grant equal representation. In response, Delgado’s faction demanded seven out of twenty seats, later lowering their claim to six, provided that Delgado moved to the Congress of Deputies. García offered five out of twenty-five spots and the second position for Delgado himself, but no compromise was reached.
Negotiations finally reached an impasse after a phone conversation on the evening of April 24, when García informed Delgado of her decision to announce her candidacy in the primaries. For Delgado, this became a signal to break off dialogue and start open competition. His entourage claims that there is no way back for him now — he will fight for leadership.
The issue of primary rules
Another point of contention was defining the pool of voters for the primaries. García insists that only party members should have the right to vote, as stipulated in the party’s charter. Delgado and his supporters demand that sympathizers also be allowed to vote, believing this would improve their chances. The party leadership sides with García, fearing that expanding the voter base could lead to unpredictable results.
Consequences for the party
The open conflict between two key Más Madrid figures could affect the balance of power within the party and its position in the regional elections. In the coming weeks, the main topic of discussion will be the format of the primaries and the final composition of the lists. According to EL PAÍS, both sides accuse each other of violating agreements and lacking loyalty, only increasing tensions within the movement.
