Spanish columnist Francisco Marhuenda said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is making a political error with his campaign against Madrid Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Marhuenda, a professor of public law and history of institutions at UNIE and member of several Spanish royal academies, stated that government hostility toward Ayuso is failing because state officials do not understand Madrid or its residents.
Writing for 247 News Agency, Marhuenda described sanchismo as suffering from an unhealthy obsession and unsettling pathology against Ayuso. He said public television stations and media outlets loyal to Moncloa faithfully follow government instructions, but their attacks produce the opposite of their intended effect. Marhuenda added that Sánchez cannot tolerate Ayuso's successive crushing victories and holds deep contempt for her. He characterized Sánchez as a left-wing radical and textbook populist who systematically violates the Constitution.
Chamberí Penthouse Controversy
Marhuenda addressed attempts by government allies to turn the purchase of a penthouse in Chamberí into a political scandal. He called the effort ridiculous, stating that excess is a characteristic symptom of mediocrity and that the matter is completely irrelevant to the vast majority of Madrid residents. He added that the issue causes no damage to Ayuso's prestige and that while he would not have sold the property himself, using it for regional government meetings or official business is a good idea.
Marhuenda criticized Sánchez's allies, including ministers Óscar López and Mónica García, reminding them of the waste, cronyism, and clientelism that he said characterize sanchismo. He warned sanchistas and their media allies to exercise prudence because they will lose government in a few months, at which point state spending over recent years will be exposed.
Electoral Impact and Government Audit
Regarding future leadership, Marhuenda expressed confidence that People's Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo will audit state administration and public enterprise sectors once in power. He urged Feijóo to lift the carpets and inspect past management, warning him not to repeat the past mistakes of former prime ministers José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy.
Marhuenda praised Ayuso for establishing professional and effective governments that have managed with exemplary honesty and given Madrid a strong identity that makes residents proud. He concluded that Sánchez sending ministers López and García to compete against Ayuso in upcoming elections guarantees an extraordinary result for her, predicting the center-right will secure more than 60 percent of the vote.
