PSOE and Más Madrid open a double front against Ayuso over the luxury penthouse bought with public money

The controversy over the luxury penthouse acquired by the Community of Madrid will reach the regional Assembly and the capital's City Council. PSOE and Más Madrid have activated different initiatives to force the Government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso to reveal the price, justify the purchase, and explain what use the 485-square-meter property will finally have.

The operation was carried out on April 14 through Planifica Madrid, a public company dependent on the Ministry of the Presidency. The acquisition was outside the company's budget for 2026, did not appear on its transparency portal, and remained hidden for more than three months.

The regional government has also not revealed how much it paid for the home. Its market value is between five and seven million euros due to its location on Paseo del General Martínez Campos, in Chamberí, and for an area that includes almost 200 square meters of terrace.

The first explanation offered by Ayuso's team pointed to a provisional office during the works of the Royal House of the Post Office. Hours later, sources of maximum confidence of the president admitted that the destination of the property "is not 100% decided" and postponed the final decision until October or November.

Más Madrid takes the operation to the Plenary

Deputy Marta Carmona has registered several writings before the Bureau of the Assembly so that the purchase is debated in the Plenary. Más Madrid wants to know if Ayuso contemplates making personal use of the penthouse, what works justify temporarily abandoning the Puerta del Sol headquarters, and why a residential home was chosen over other public buildings.

The group has also requested the appearance of the Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment, Rocío Albert, to detail the economic, technical and patrimonial criteria used by Planifica Madrid. The public company already owns ten complete buildings intended for offices and another premises that it leases to different regional departments.

The opposition will also demand the purchase file, its financing and the reports that supported the choice. The operation was not among the investments planned by Planifica Madrid and the Governing Council also did not publicly announce a budget increase intended to acquire the penthouse.

The explanation about the need for a new office also clashes with the information published by 'ElConstitucional.es'. Ayuso has an operational office on the ground floor of the Assembly, equipped with a meeting room, secretariat, computer systems, and the necessary security measures.

Sources from the Madrid PP itself have confirmed to this medium that the president uses these facilities during parliamentary sessions. The old building of the groups also has spaces freed up after the disappearance of Ciudadanos that could be adapted for some of the Presidency staff.

The City Council must clarify if it allows an office

The second battle will take place in the Madrid City Council. Más Madrid has requested from the Government of José Luis Martínez-Almeida a copy of the license or enabling title that allows the installation of an administrative office within the property.

The penthouse is on the ninth floor of a residential building and retains that use in urban planning. The General Urban Planning Plan of Madrid limits the establishment of Administration offices in this type of building to the ground floor and the first floor, according to the review carried out by 'ElConstitucional.es'.

The deputy spokesperson for Más Madrid, Eduardo Rubiño, has announced that his group will remain "vigilant" regarding any urban planning procedure. The socialists have also warned that converting the penthouse into an office could violate municipal regulations and have demanded that the Community clarify who will occupy it if it maintains its residential use.

The president has defended that she needs a place to hold institutional meetings while the Royal House of Correos is being rehabilitated. The regional executive has not yet detailed what works will begin in August, how long they will last, or what part of the headquarters will require the transfer of presidential activity.

The PSOE demands the price and the complete file

Óscar López has placed the purchase within his political offensive against Ayuso as general secretary of the Madrid PSOE. "First a chalet in Rascafría. Now a penthouse in Chamberí. Millions of euros from all Madrid residents," he wrote before demanding explanations about "how, how much, why and for what" the property was acquired.

The socialist leader has also questioned the Community allocating several million to this operation while facing the fires in the Sierra Oeste. The PSOE wants to know why temporary rental, transfer to another regional dependency, or the use of the already available office in the Assembly was ruled out.

The pressure has extended to the central government. Óscar Puente, Mónica García, Isabel Rodríguez, and Sira Rego criticized this Wednesday the lack of transparency and the budgetary priorities of the Madrid Executive. The Minister of Health contrasted the purchase of the penthouse with waiting lists and the deterioration of regional public services.

Ayuso responded that she has not bought any home and denounced a smear campaign. The property formally belongs to the Community of Madrid, although the operation was initially presented as a solution designed for its direct and exclusive use during the works in Sol.

The registered initiatives will force the regional government to specify the cost and purpose of the purchase. The City Council must also rule on the urban planning fit before Planifica Madrid can transform a residential home on the ninth floor into administrative dependencies.