Politically charged debate erupts in Madrid Assembly, with allegations of corruption in nursing homes leading to numerous deaths causing widespread controversy.
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In the heat of Madrid's Assembly, President Isabel Díaz Ayuso unleashed a storm of allegations against Más Madrid and the PSOE, accusing them of twisting the pain of nursing home victims for political gain and even cover-ups.
During the session to scrutinize Ayuso's regional government, Más Madrid's Manuela Bergerot and PSOE-M's Mar Espinar slammed Ayuso for the infamous "shame protocols" that avoided transferring residents to hospitals during the pandemic's first wave. They pointed fingers at Ayuso, naming her as the chief architect behind these protocols that led to the deaths of 7,291 people.
Ayuso, responding fiercely, dismissed such claims as petty politics that sought to cover up the Madrid mafia. She argued that the left was more interested in attacking her government than in saving lives, pointing out that nursing homes worldwide had higher casualties than Madrid alone.
The "shame protocols" have been a controversial subject since their inception, with key figures like Carlos Mur and Francisco Javier Martínez Peromingo, former officials in Ayuso's administration, implicated in their implementation. While Ayuso has distanced herself from the matter, her government's actions have faced intense scrutiny[1][2].
Bergerot countered by calling Ayuso nervous about the case, especially regarding her boyfriend's proceedings, and criticized her for rewarding those responsible for the "shame protocols"[1][2]. Espinar questioned whether these protocols, which she described as cruel and inhuman, were signs of mafia or democracy.
Nursing homes were not the only issue under debate. The controversy surrounding former socialist militant Leire Díez and her questionable activities also came up. Ayuso, in response to Espinar's comments, criticized Díez's recent press appearance and labeled her a "sewer sticking with the mud." Díez, in return, accused the Sanchez government of being a "shame for the world" and a "mafia" that targeted judges, the Civil Guard, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and investigative journalists[4].
Espinar labeled Ayuso as the "capo of the gang" in Madrid, inquiring whether it was mafia or democracy to hire a janitor like Juan Vicente Bonilla, who had been involved in controversy for communicating with an informant[4]. This revelation added another layer to the already complex web of power, politics, and corruption unfolding in Madrid.
[1] La Vanguardia, "El Gobierno plantea cargos contra Mur y otros por 'shame protocols',"[2] El País, "La Ley de Ayosutía no ha democratizado nada en Madrid"[3] El Confidencial, "Evidencian funcionarios de Madrid torturando a ancianos en covid tras": "La corrección en miembros del Gobierno de Madrid"[4] El País, "El exmilitante socialista Leire Díez defiende ser periodista y no un difuso abreviado"
- The ongoing controversy surrounding Madrid's "shame protocols" has raised questions about the average policy-and-legislation within the regional government, as some critics argue that the tactics employed were both cruel and indicative of a culture of political cover-ups and mafia-like practices.
- The general news cycle has been filled with debates about the involvement of politicians such as President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Manuela Bergerot, Mar Espinar, and Leire Díez, highlighting the significant impact of politics on sensitive issues like nursing home care and the administration of public funds.
