Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso Faces Resignation Calls Over Luxury Penthouse Purchase

The regional public company Planifica Madrid bought a 485‑square‑metre luxury attic in Chamberí, Madrid, allegedly to serve as office space during works on the Puerta del Sol. The transaction, lacking a clear contract and contrary to municipal rules, sparked a political scandal. Opposition parties have reacted strongly: the PSOE has formally demanded Ayuso’s resignation, Más Madrid announced it will take the case to the courts, and the governing PP admitted the purchase was a mistake. Ayuso defended the deal as a “campaign of defamation,” saying the property would be sold to fund wildfire reconstruction, and the penthouse was subsequently put on the market. Her chief of staff, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, dismissed the idea of an official residence for Ayuso and framed the issue as a private matter. The controversy has intensified scrutiny of the regional government ahead of upcoming elections.