Madrid’s central square has been locked down for nearly a week, with protesters refusing to leave. Isabel Díaz Ayuso has asked the courts to order the immediate removal of the Puerta del Sol encampment. The Comunidad de Madrid confirmed the legal move in statements cited by RTVE. Officials say they had no other option after what Ayuso called “absolute chaos” and what they described as inaction by Spain’s central government. The regional government has filed a contentious-administrative appeal, seeking urgent judicial intervention.
On Thursday, Ayuso’s team filed the appeal, asking the court to impose the strictest emergency measures, “cautelarísimas,” to force protesters out of ‘kilómetro cero’. Ayuso was blunt in the Assembly. She said, “Since they won’t let baby strollers through, at least let ambulances pass.” She accused the Government Delegate of refusing to act against what she called an “illegal occupation.”
The legal push followed the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum from the regional government. The Delegación del Gobierno took no action. Both the Comunidad de Madrid and the Ayuntamiento had demanded that national authorities break up the camp, but received no response. On Thursday, the Delegación del Gobierno said it had received the demands but would not change course. It stated that operations in Puerta del Sol would continue “in accordance with the prevailing legal structure.”
For days, Madrid’s heart has been a flashpoint. Access is restricted, and complaints about blocked passageways keep rising. Ayuso’s administration says the situation is out of control, citing risks to public safety and inconvenience. The legal filing responds to what the regional government sees as the central government’s refusal to enforce order in the city’s most famous square. Official press releases from the Comunidad de Madrid claim the encampment puts emergency services and public transit at risk.
The standoff is not new. As reported earlier, city officials and police unions have warned about security threats and called for urgent action. Tensions have been building for days.
The Delegación del Gobierno says it is meeting its legal obligations and responding to the situation on the ground. So far, it has refused to order a forceful eviction. The regional government is betting that a court order will break the deadlock and restore normal life to Puerta del Sol.
The dispute reflects a deep split between Madrid’s regional and national leaders over who controls public order in the capital’s symbolic spaces. Ayuso has skipped political talks and gone straight to court, seeking a judge’s order to force an eviction. The outcome will set a precedent, determining whether Madrid’s regional government can push national officials to act when patience runs out.
