A parliamentary absolute majority empowers Isabel Díaz Ayuso to legislate with virtually no resistance in the Madrid Assembly; consequently, the opposition must place all its eggs in the basket of communication. To be effective, their actions and messaging must rest upon the appearance of a solid political project—a requirement that necessarily demands every single one of their representatives speak with a single voice, no matter how intense their internal debates may be. Furthermore, those casting their votes for the party must have the confidence that its primary and most urgent objective is to implement every single measure it advocates.
Más Madrid possesses significant political capital. It stands as the second-largest political force in the Community of Madrid; yet, even more significantly, it has positioned itself as the leading alternative and the primary scourge of the PP (Popular Party), thereby relegating the century-old PSOE to the background. The Socialists, for their part, currently have their candidate serving in a government ministry—a post from which he is expected to resign once the election campaign officially begins. Among the key strengths of the brand—originally championed by Manuela Carmena in 2018—are its deep local roots and its independence from any overarching national party apparatus. Having successfully weathered their initial turbulence and “growing pains,” the party had previously shown no signs of internal discord.
That is, until Saturday, April 25, when Mónica García boldly declared: “I want to be the next President of the Community of Madrid.” The elections were looming, and while Más Madrid still lacked a designated candidate, no one had anticipated such a traumatic turn of events. On one side stood Manuela Bergerot—the party’s spokesperson and its primary asset in direct confrontations (*cara-a-cara*) against Díaz Ayuso. On the other was Emilio Delgado—a familiar face on television and a viral social media presence, whose political style mirrors that of Gabriel Rufián. The true surprise, however, is García—a colleague of Óscar López—who had previously been assumed to be out of the running. The prevailing assumption had been that her role in the Health Department was an end in itself—a permanent seat—rather than a springboard for higher office.
The Minister has now announced her intention to “jump ship” at a moment when the vessel she serves is taking on water through significant breaches. The medical community has taken note—and has ceased to recognize her as a legitimate interlocutor in their ongoing strike negotiations. They now see her focused on her exit and want to negotiate with Pedro Sánchez. She now faces new problems—ones stemming from her own intentions. García appeared on laSexta’s *Al Rojo Vivo*, as she has on so many occasions before; yet this appearance would not be like the others. Delgado was seated at the table, and Antonio García Ferreras had barely to broach the subject before a palpable tension began to emerge between the two—a tension they attempted to mask with an air of cordiality.
