A political storm is brewing in Madrid as two recent decisions by Spain’s Constitutional Court have cast doubt on the actions of Enrique Ossorio, president of the Madrid Assembly and one of Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s closest allies. The opposition, openly expressing outrage, is demanding his immediate resignation, accusing him of authoritarian leadership and blocking rival initiatives. The spotlight is on the overwhelming dominance of the Partido Popular (PP) in the regional parliament, where Ossorio plays a crucial role.
Previously, Ossorio served as both vice president and official spokesperson for Ayuso’s administration, and he authored her electoral programs. According to the opposition, these close ties enabled him to secure the Assembly presidency and transform parliament into a tool for political confrontation with the central government. The left-wing parties — Más Madrid, PSOE, and even Vox — insist that the PP majority is systematically used to suppress any alternative voices and initiatives.
Judicial setbacks
The Constitutional Court is now closely examining a series of opposition complaints, including cases concerning the reshuffling of the regional broadcaster Telemadrid’s leadership in favor of the PP. Another high-profile lawsuit is expected to be reviewed soon, which could impact the very structure of media governance in the region.
Más Madrid leader Manuela Bergerot called the latest court ruling ‘devastating’ and accused Ossorio of acting solely in Ayuso’s interests. According to her, the current situation is incompatible with democratic principles, and keeping Ossorio in office is a direct challenge to constitutional order. Meanwhile, PSOE socialists say that not only should Ossorio resign, but Ayuso herself as well.
Vetoes and scandals
Among the initiatives blocked by the Assembly were questions about alleged threats by Ayuso’s chief of staff, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, against a journalist, as well as proposals to investigate healthcare cooperation schemes involving the regional leader’s partner. The opposition insists these topics are being deliberately silenced to prevent inconvenient facts from coming to light.
Vox, which previously supported the PP, has now also appealed to the Constitutional Court, accusing the Assembly leadership of systematically and arbitrarily rejecting their proposals. Representatives of parliament, however, say it is too early to discuss the issue while official court decisions have not yet been received.
Escalation of tensions
Since Ossorio took over as president of the Assembly, party conflicts have only intensified. His repeated public bans on discussing contentious topics, including his own involvement in the ongoing ‘FP case’ investigation, have drawn sharp criticism from the left. The opposition accuses him of selective enforcement: he’s said to act swiftly against violations by Más Madrid, PSOE, or Vox, but to ignore similar actions by the PP.
During Ossorio’s tenure, the parliament launched an investigation into Begoña Gómez, which many believe was aimed solely at undermining Pedro Sánchez’s government. The opposition describes the process as an ‘authoritarian turn’ and ‘censorship,’ with some lawmakers even taking legal action after being silenced during sessions.
Legislative maneuvers
In the coming weeks, the Constitutional Court will hear PSOE’s complaint over the fast-track adoption of the Telemadrid law, which enabled PP and Vox to seize control of the regional broadcaster. Socialists argue that the procedure deprived lawmakers of the right to propose amendments, thus undermining democratic standards.
Other contentious issues remain on the court’s docket: the land law, the so-called ‘omnibus law’ that allowed PP and Ayuso to push through dozens of changes in a single session, and the refusal to set up a commission to investigate the Madrid Network association. According to the opposition, the latter is linked to payments made to a company founded by former minister Cristóbal Montoro, who is now under investigation.
Systemic issues
Decisions made by the Assembly under the leadership of Ossorio and his predecessors have regularly sparked discontent from the opposition. A particularly contentious issue is the prohibition on discussing topics related to previous parliamentary terms, which allows the PP to avoid uncomfortable inquiries, such as investigations into mask supply contracts during the pandemic. At that time, despite clear ties to the current administration, the opposition was denied the right to raise these concerns.
All of this has created an atmosphere of deep mistrust and political tension in Madrid. The opposition openly states that it views the actions of Ossorio and his team as a direct threat to the region’s democratic institutions. Ahead lie new court proceedings and, potentially, even sharper confrontations in the Assembly chamber.
