Isabel Díaz Ayuso demands transparency over eclipse trip costs

Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso has demanded that four Spanish government ministers justify the expenses related to a trip to the Yebes Observatory in Guadalajara during the total solar eclipse on August 12.

Ayuso criticized the reported 72,000 euro cost, characterizing the event as a ‘fiesta a cuerpo de rey’ (a party at the public's expense). She has called for a full breakdown of costs, including drivers, escorts, hotels, and meals. The ministers targeted by her demand include Transport Minister Óscar López, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Science Minister Diana Morant, and Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres.

The Madrid leader contrasted the expenditure with broader national issues, including rising food prices and migration crises. This latest confrontation follows previous political tensions regarding Ayuso's management style and various controversies involving her administration and personal associations.