An open conflict has erupted within the Más Madrid party between Health Minister Mónica García and deputy Emilio Delgado. According to EL PAÍS, tensions between the two key party figures had been building for several months, but became public after a phone call on Friday evening. García informed Delgado of her intention to announce her candidacy in the Madrid primaries, taking him by surprise and forcing him to choose: either support his rival in front of party members, or withdraw from the event.
Causes of the conflict
The root of their disagreement is not just a struggle for leadership, but also their approach to organizing the primaries. García insists that only official party members should be allowed to vote, as stipulated in the statutes. Delgado and his supporters, on the other hand, demand to expand participation to sympathizers, believing this would ensure broader representation. According to party sources, under the current rules, no more than a thousand people will be able to vote, whereas similar procedures previously involved up to seven thousand participants.
Personal ambitions and longstanding grievances
Mutual distrust between García and Delgado intensified after the latter independently organized a public debate with Gabriel Rufián. The Más Madrid leadership saw this as an attempt by Delgado to assert his leadership ambitions and bypass party discipline. Since then, supporters of both camps have been waging a covert struggle for influence within the organization.
Public confrontation
The situation also escalated on television: García and Delgado faced off live on the Al Rojo Vivo program on La Sexta. Their brief exchange revealed that disagreements over the primaries and party management methods had become public. García emphasized the importance of participation being limited to party members, while Delgado insisted on maximum transparency in the process. Despite attempts to maintain a facade of unity, it became clear that the conflict had moved beyond behind-the-scenes discussions.
Internal Party Proposals and Consequences
There had previously been talk of Delgado moving to the federal level, but his supporters fear that the party’s influence is concentrated in Madrid. Within Más Madrid, Delgado is also accused of trying to destabilize the situation for personal gain. Delgado himself complains of a lack of support and resources compared to other party leaders.
The issue of the primary rules and who will be eligible to vote remains unresolved. The date of the vote has not yet been announced. The conflict between García and Delgado has become one of the most prominent internal party disputes in Madrid in recent years.
