Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, a prominent Partido Popular (PP) deputy and historian, has sharply criticised Spanish politics, pointing to deepening polarisation and what she sees as an erosion of democratic standards. In a recent interview at the Hipódromo de La Zarzuela, she discussed the controversy surrounding Isabel Díaz Ayuso and a luxury penthouse, saying she still does not fully understand the case. The property, at Paseo del General Martínez Campos, 35, in Madrid’s Chamberí district, was acquired in April by Planifica Madrid, an entity attached to the regional Presidency Ministry. It measures about 485 square metres, and its reported €6.3 million price works out to approximately €12,990 per square metre. The purchase has drawn impressive attention, particularly after Madrid’s regional government justified it for office use, as previously reported in coverage of the Chamberí penthouse debate.
The property was initially presented as a temporary office for Ayuso while renovation work took place at the Real Casa de Correos, the regional government’s headquarters at Puerta del Sol. But its registered urban use is residential, complicating the original explanation that it would be used as an office. The regional government later offered a broader account of its intended purpose: Minister of the Presidency and government spokesperson Miguel Ángel García Martín said it was seeking an institutional property with workspace and rest areas, as well as “occasional accommodation” for visiting officials or regional authorities. The government has since abandoned the penthouse as its planned temporary office and put it up for sale. García Martín said it “is for sale and is no longer an alternative” for the president’s occasional office. The proposed alternative is premises at Canal de Isabel II, at Calle de Santa Engracia, 125. The presidency’s official seat remains the Real Casa de Correos.
Álvarez de Toledo, who has held Spanish and Argentine citizenship, as well as French citizenship, described herself as a “feminist of the Camille Paglia school” and defended the right to challenge political correctness. She argued that democratic societies must tolerate offence and dissent, and called for open debate within political parties, including her own. She said the PP should allow internal criticism while maintaining voting discipline, and rejected rigid talking points. Her public profile is associated with a conservative current in the party that stresses constitutional centralism and opposition to Catalan independence. It also favours a strong state, positions linked to the political legacy of José María Aznar.
On the national stage, she warned that the government’s agreements with parties that do not condemn political violence pose a serious breach in Spain’s democratic fabric. She also denounced what she called a “mafia” funded by the ruling party to undermine officials fighting corruption in the courts and law enforcement. Álvarez de Toledo has reaffirmed her support for PP president Alberto Núñez Feijóo despite their political differences. Party members are not identical, she said, but described him as “the president Spain needs.” She hopes he could lead a broad moral and political renewal. She firmly opposed any potential pardons for Carles Puigdemont and criticised the amnesty law, arguing that it weakens the state and benefits neither the PP nor the PSOE.
At a political dialogue at the Real Casino de Murcia, Álvarez de Toledo blamed Spain’s political division on what she characterised as a strategy of stirring up hatred, associated with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. She argued that actors unable to win broad public support may instead mobilise anger, while insisting Spaniards do not hate one another. Among those attending were Murcia mayor Rebeca Pérez and PP regional secretary general José Miguel Luengo. Regional PP president Fernando López Miras was also there. Álvarez de Toledo said a Feijóo-led government would provide “a strong state” to guarantee order and liberty. She has cast the electoral contest as a choice between “decency or delinquency.”
On Catalonia, Álvarez de Toledo credited the region’s relative calm to police action and the application of Article 155, not the amnesty law. She also pointed to the rise of Aliança Catalana, describing it as a radical, xenophobic separatist force. On Vox, she suggested the party would lose relevance if the PP fulfilled its responsibilities. She acknowledged voting for Ciudadanos after leaving the PP, reflecting her belief in political renewal from the grassroots.
Internationally, Álvarez de Toledo took a critical stance towards the US government and condemned the treatment of Venezuela as a political prize. She praised Camille Paglia and María Corina Machado as female role models. On Argentina, she recognised Javier Milei’s cultural revolution but distanced herself from his confrontational style, noting that the country is beginning to recover from years of populism.
Álvarez de Toledo also addressed practical issues in Spanish politics, including the use of earpieces in Congress and the importance of a common language as a moral value. She described the 2021 Ceuta migration crisis as a hybrid attack on Spanish sovereignty and accused the Sánchez government of failing to respond effectively. In a controversial comparison, she likened Sánchez to Franco “in comparable aspects” and insisted that political leaders must take responsibility and resign when necessary.
Álvarez de Toledo has served as PP parliamentary spokesperson and is known for outspoken positions, including public disagreements with party leadership. Her latest book, “A los españoles que quieren serlo,” is set for release this autumn. The penthouse’s purchase, intended use and eventual decision to sell it have kept transparency and public spending in Madrid in the political debate. Wider disputes over judicial independence and party discipline also remain part of Spain’s polarised political climate.
