Key facts
- Madrid regional government spent €6.3m on a penthouse in April.
- The property was intended as a temporary workspace for President Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
- Planning laws restrict the penthouse to residential use, not as an office.
- Ayuso initially claimed ignorance of the purchase, calling it a 'smear campaign'.
- The government has since decided to sell the penthouse and donate proceeds.
- A judge is investigating multiple complaints concerning the acquisition.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative president of the Madrid region, is facing intense scrutiny over her government's €6.3 million purchase of a luxury penthouse. The property was reportedly acquired to serve as a temporary workspace for Ayuso while her official offices underwent renovation, a claim that has been met with skepticism and a judicial investigation.
El País reported that the penthouse, located in Madrid's upscale Chamberí neighbourhood, was bought in April. A spokesperson for Ayuso's administration stated the property was intended for institutional meetings during the renovation of the Real Casa de Correos, the regional government's seat. However, it later emerged that the penthouse could only be used for residential purposes due to planning laws. Reports also indicated that Ayuso's government had specified requirements for the property, including a large terrace, which are unusual for an office space.
Ayuso initially dismissed the revelations as a 'smear campaign' and asserted she had no knowledge of the purchase. She suggested it was intended for 'institutional meetings.' Her partner, businessman Alberto González Amador, who is awaiting trial on tax fraud charges, recently put two of their shared flats up for sale.
Following the backlash, the regional government announced that the penthouse would be sold, with the proceeds to be donated to victims of recent wildfires near Madrid. Ayuso has since stated the matter is closed, remarking, 'It’s for sale, so see you later, alligator.'
Despite Ayuso's attempts to close the issue, a judge in Madrid is investigating five separate complaints related to the penthouse acquisition. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the People's party, acknowledged that questions remain, noting that while Ayuso's team had informed him in April about seeking temporary offices, her claim of ignorance about the specific purchase appears contradictory. Opponents, including the central government, have deemed her explanations 'insufficient and worrying,' calling for her resignation.