The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, reiterated this Friday his request to the Government Delegation to lift the encampment in Puerta del Sol "immediately" before "a tragedy occurs." The mayor of Madrid made these statements after the diploma ceremony for the sixth promotion of Madrid Mobility Agents, held by the City Council at the Conde Duque Contemporary Culture Center.
"When there is a tragedy, the Government delegate (Francisco Martín) should not blame Ayuso and Almeida," the mayor stated to the media, insisting that the concentration, in his opinion, poses a risk and should be removed as soon as possible.
A protest that the City Council describes as illegal
José Luis Martínez-Almeida stressed that it is an "illegal" encampment and emphasized that it is not "peaceful," although, he said, "the left" maintains otherwise. "We have already seen some episodes of violence," added the mayor, who linked the continuation of the protest with the possibility of new incidents.
The Madrid mayor also pointed out that the housing protest that began on September 26, after the eviction of Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman who would die days later in the hospital, "no longer has anything to do even with the purpose that led them to Puerta del Sol."
Response to the words of the Government delegate
Following Thursday's statements by Francisco Martín, in which he pointed to the presence of homeless people settled in the encampment and encouraged the City Council to give "precise answers" to these people, Almeida maintained that there are not only homeless people, but also "possibly, drug addicts," and that "episodes of violence" have occurred.
Regarding that request, the mayor described it as "brazen" to try to "divert attention to the City Council." Furthermore, he criticized that if the Government delegate "does not have the courage to send the National Police" to enter the encampment, how will "social services" enter. "It's grotesque" that he proposes it and he has done it "because he is nervous," stressed José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
"If he lifts the encampment today, today the Samur Social will be there, in Puerta del Sol, assisting every homeless person," the mayor of Madrid declared.
Criticism for the impact on Puerta del Sol
The mayor also regretted that events are not being held in Puerta del Sol due to the concentration, such as the meeting of the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, with the Argentine president, Javier Milei, or this Sunday's transhumance, which has had to change its route.
"The merchants who are suffering the losses they are suffering and all because of a nonsense at this moment of encampment that has nothing to do with the one that existed at the time," pointed out Martínez-Almeida. In the same vein, he added: "I defend that (the President of the Government) Pedro Sánchez can work in the Palacio de la Moncloa as I defend that Isabel Díaz Ayuso can work in the Puerta del Sol."