A sharp political crisis has erupted in Madrid, already leading to significant changes in the management of the region’s education and culture. At the center of events is the resignation of Antonio Castillo Algarra, until recently regarded as one of the most influential advisors on education and cultural affairs. His departure as artistic director of the Ballet Nacional de España signaled deep divisions within the regional president’s inner circle.
The situation developed rapidly: after the Education Advisor, Emilio Viciana, was dismissed earlier in the week, several young deputies and officials linked to education reform left their positions within a day. They were referred to as the “pocholos”—an ironic nickname reflecting their youth and style. These changes have sparked concern among politicians and experts, as such a wave of resignations in one of the region’s key departments is extremely rare.
Internal conflict
The crisis was caused by a sharp confrontation between two groups within the regional branch of the Partido Popular (PP). On one side are the young reformers inspired by Algarra, and on the other, the so-called ‘hardline’ faction insisting on returning control of education and culture to more conservative politicians. The standoff reached its peak in a public clash between Algarra and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, the chief advisor to President Ayuso (Isabel Díaz Ayuso).
Veteran party members deemed it unacceptable that someone they considered eccentric wielded such strong influence over education policy. Following Visiana’s dismissal, three deputies—Pablo Posse, Mónica Lavín, and Carlota Pasarón—resigned within hours. At the same time, two department heads responsible for universities and secondary education stepped down. In the corridors of power, there was talk that such synchronized resignations were unprecedented for Madrid.
Reaction and consequences
Algarra himself did not hide his dissatisfaction with the situation and openly accused Rodríguez of orchestrating a campaign against him. On social media, he sharply criticized publications that he believed were inspired by political opponents. As a result, his departure from the ballet became not only a personal decision but also a symbol of division within the regional government.
While President Ayuso was speaking at an event dedicated to the digitalization of healthcare, no one at the government building on Sol square expected such dramatic changes. The sudden resignation announcements shocked colleagues and observers alike. Political circles are now discussing that such events could lead to a shift in the balance of power in the regional parliament and influence the future direction of education policy.
Context and parallels
The situation in Madrid resembles other recent political conflicts, where internal disagreements have led to unexpected personnel decisions. For instance, Spain has previously witnessed disputes among party leaders that affected its international relations. Recently, a conflict between Pedro Sánchez and Giorgia Meloni resulted in Spain being excluded from a key meeting at the EU summit, an issue examined in detail in the article on the impact of disagreements between countries on Madrid’s position in Europe. Such situations demonstrate how quickly internal disputes can escalate into large-scale political crises.
In recent years, Spain has seen repeated shake-ups in regional governments due to internal conflicts. In 2024, a similar wave of resignations swept through Andalucía when tensions between young reformers and the old guard led to changes in leadership in several ministries. In Catalonia in 2025, internal disputes within the ruling coalition also ended with the departure of several key figures. These events underscore the fragility of political stability in the regions, showing how unexpected personnel changes can shift the balance of power at any moment.
