Rita Maestre, confirmed in July 2026 as Más Madrid’s candidate for mayor in the May 2027 municipal election, has drawn attention to the intensifying hostility facing women in Spanish politics, particularly those on the left. She won 81.2% of the party’s internal vote, with participation reported at 90%, defeating the alternative Más Madrid Abierto candidacy. After more than a decade in public life, she describes a political environment in Madrid where entrenched power structures and digital aggression have become increasingly normalized, especially amid the rise of polarizing figures and the spread of hate speech on major social networks.
Maestre points to a pattern that began in 2015, when new political forces entered city governments and the traditional right responded with what she calls a highly polarized, reactive stance. She says this shift produced a narrative dividing governments into “legitimate” and “illegitimate,” with the latter facing persistent judicial and media pressure. From 2015 to 2019, she served as spokesperson for the municipal government led by Manuela Carmena, before Más Madrid moved into opposition. In her view, the environment has grown more hostile, with women and feminists often bearing the brunt of online and offline attacks.
Despite these challenges, Maestre says Más Madrid has focused on grassroots campaigning and direct outreach to residents in a city where media visibility is dominated by figures such as regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. She argues that long-term control by a single party in Madrid has created a complex web of economic, judicial and media interests that is difficult to dismantle. That control has normalized everyday problems and fostered a sense of resignation among citizens.
Maestre criticizes recent city decisions, including the failed Bernabéu parking project, which she says wasted public funds and served only a minority interest. She also points to the influence of powerful business figures, citing Florentino Pérez’s public statements as emblematic of unchecked power in Madrid. In her view, these examples show how public resources and decision-making can be skewed away from the broader public good.
On ongoing judicial cases, including those involving Alberto González Amador, Maestre stresses the need for transparency and warns against conspiracy theories as well as naïveté. The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid authorized investigators from the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit to examine González Amador’s tax, Social Security and banking information. That widened access to financial records after a dispute over the scope of material investigators could review. González Amador is the partner of regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
One proceeding has reached the oral-trial stage and concerns an allegation that González Amador avoided about €350,000 in taxes using invoices for services prosecutors say were not provided. A separate investigation is examining whether he acquired an inactive company for about €500,000 from the wife of Quirón executive Fernando Camino, in circumstances prosecutors suspect could amount to an improper payment. These remain allegations, not final findings of guilt. The tax case is distinct from the separate inquiry, which remains under investigation.
Maestre describes a pattern of legal actions, often referred to as lawfare, targeting left-wing politicians. Such cases frequently end without convictions but still disrupt political activity. She cites the lengthy Púnica case as evidence that justice can move slowly for some while other cases are expedited. In October 2026, she also called for Madrid City Hall to double the number of inspectors overseeing tourist accommodation and, within one month, review more than 6,500 temporary-rental properties identified as potentially fraudulent. She called for the closure of those found to be operating unlawfully.
Maestre also addresses the legacy of previous Socialist leaders, noting that her political generation emerged in opposition to the PSOE-PP agreement to prioritize debt over social services in the Constitution. While recognizing José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s positive achievements, she argues that the culture of revolving doors and political-business ties predates his tenure. She calls for equal scrutiny of all former leaders’ business activities.
Discussing the current political field, Maestre expresses concern about the possibility of far-right figures such as José María Figaredo or Santiago Abascal gaining basic ministerial roles. She says the left must present itself as a clean alternative, particularly as corruption cases involving the PSOE are being processed more swiftly than those linked to the PP. She praises Yolanda Díaz’s leadership and her role in the 2023 coalition, while acknowledging the need for a more deliberate approach to selecting future leaders for Sumar. A decision is expected in September.
Maestre says Más Madrid maintains internal democracy through primaries and district assemblies, despite recent resignations from the Committee of Guarantees over updated internal protocols. She sees such departures as a normal part of organizational life when disagreements arise.
Reflecting on her own future, Maestre says building lasting political leadership in a city of 3.5 million requires time and continuity, not frequent changes in party spokespeople. She credits sustained street-level work for her recognition among residents.
In 2024, Maestre publicly addressed the impact of learning about the conduct of her former partner, Iñigo Errejón, who resigned as spokesperson following an anonymous complaint. She says that, although not all allegations can be proven in court, ethical standards require immediate action in such cases. Más Madrid has since updated its anti-harassment protocols to better handle complaints, including those from outside the organization, and prevent future ambiguities.
Maestre acknowledges the difficulty of handling anonymous complaints. Ideally, she says, such matters would be resolved in court, but many victims of sexual violence find it difficult to come forward through official channels. She believes organizations must investigate all credible reports, including anonymous ones, while cautioning against assuming every claim is automatically true. The challenge, she says, lies in the broader system’s shortcomings, not in the actions of women who speak out.
Maestre’s national profile has also grown through her criticism of Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s position on parental awareness of abortion decisions by 16-year-olds. She called the proposal “a programme from 1985” and invoked former Popular Party minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, saying Feijóo would “end up like Gallardón, but without setting foot in the Council of Ministers.” Her remarks connect her city-level opposition to wider debates over reproductive rights and women’s autonomy.
Maestre’s concerns about entrenched power and the slow pace of judicial proceedings echo wider debates in Spanish politics. Recent discussions about regional funding and inequality, including those raised by Castilla-La Mancha’s leader, show how institutional inertia can shape local and national outcomes. Reports such as this analysis of Spain’s regional funding model examine the challenges of reforming established systems.
