Opposition steps up pressure on Ayuso government over €6.3 million penthouse purchase

Opposition parties in Madrid are intensifying their scrutiny of regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso's €6.3 million purchase of a luxury penthouse using public funds. Both the left-wing Más Madrid group and the Socialist Party (PSOE) have applied to join an ongoing court investigation into the deal. Más Madrid has formally requested to be admitted as a popular prosecutor, allowing it to participate in the proceedings and investigate potential criminal wrongdoing on the part of the administration.

The PSOE has also submitted documents and requests for testimony to uncover any irregularities in the property's acquisition and intended use. The controversy originated when it was revealed that Planifica Madrid, the regional government's public company, purchased the penthouse in the affluent Chamberí district for approximately €6.3 million, ostensibly to provide temporary facilities for Ayuso during the renovation of the Real Casa de Correos.

However, questions have emerged regarding the property's intended purpose, the legality of its acquisition, and the transparency of the transaction. Opposition parties argue that the purchase may have violated procedural requirements, resulted in an opaque handling of funds, and lacked a genuine public interest justification. They demand access to crucial documents, including the purchase deed, transaction details, and independent valuations, to assess whether Ayuso's administration complied with the law and public interest.