Madrid’s opposition parties have zeroed in on Isabel Díaz Ayuso, hammering her government over the purchase of a luxury apartment worth more than six million euros. The property sits directly across from Ayuso’s childhood home, a location that has become a focal point for critics. In the latest regional debate, they used the word “ático” more than thirty times. Their goal is to keep the issue in the spotlight and chip away at Ayuso’s reputation.
Vox, but, is taking a different approach. The far-right party often competes with the Partido Popular for the same voters, but has chosen to stay mostly quiet on the scandal. During the second day of debate, Vox spokesperson Isabel Pérez Moñino brought up the apartment just once, a sharp contrast to the left’s repeated attacks. A senior Vox strategist said the party wants to avoid what they call the “mimimimimi” effect: Ayuso turns each accusation into proof she is being unfairly targeted, reinforcing her image as a victim.
Heraldo reported that the Tribunal de Cuentas had formally admitted Más Madrid’s complaint regarding the penthouse purchase, opening the door to possible budgetary liability proceedings.
This isn’t new territory for Ayuso. Since her first investiture in 2019, she has shown a knack for turning criticism into claims of personal persecution. When her father’s business was questioned, she framed it as an attack on someone who couldn’t defend himself. Later scrutiny over her brother’s commissions became, in her words, a witch hunt. Investigations into her partner’s alleged tax fraud followed the same pattern: Ayuso dismissed them as state interference in her private life. Each time, she has managed to shift the conversation and blunt the impact of the allegations.
Vox’s restraint is intentional. The party wants to avoid looking like an ally of the left or simply echoing the arguments of PSOE and Más Madrid. Instead, Vox is positioning itself as an independent critic, asking Ayuso’s government for transparency and documentation without fueling her claims of victimhood. This lets the party keep its distance from the left while still holding the regional government to account.
Regional elections are coming up in 2027, and PP and Vox are competing for the same voters. Any misstep could change the balance of power. Recent tensions in Catalonia show how the far right’s strategy can affect local politics.
El País reported that the penthouse in Chamberí was purchased in April for approximately 6.3 million euros and has a surface area of 485 m². The regional government later put the property up for sale for 6.7 million euros, after initially justifying the purchase as temporary office space during renovations at Real Casa de Correos.
For now, Vox’s decision to limit its attacks on the “ático” controversy shows a clear understanding of Ayuso’s political tactics. By refusing to feed her narrative, Vox hopes to avoid strengthening her position and focus instead on demanding concrete answers.
