Summary of 24-06-2025 Sesión ordinaria del Pleno municipal

The ordinary plenary session of the Madrid City Council held on June 24, 2025, covered a wide range of political, social, and urban development issues, marked by intense debate among the municipal groups: Popular Party (PP), Socialist Party (PSOE), Más Madrid, and Vox.

Key Points and Debates:

  1. Approval of Previous Minutes:
    Minutes from previous sessions were unanimously approved.
  2. Conciliation for Madrid Families in Summer:
    Más Madrid’s spokesperson, Rita Maestre, criticized the current administration for the high costs and lack of public services that make summer childcare and reconciliation difficult for families. She highlighted expensive municipal camp fees and the scarcity of public facilities. The mayor defended the administration, citing a record number of summer camp places and accusing Más Madrid of ignoring government corruption.
  3. Capital City Law Reform:
    The government announced withdrawal of the reform due to unfavorable political circumstances in Congress, particularly opposition from Sánchez’s government and allied parties. Vox and other groups criticized the handling of this issue, accusing the government of recklessness and political maneuvering.
  4. Corruption and Institutional Criticism:
    Several speakers, notably from Vox and PSOE, exchanged accusations of corruption, institutional decay, and moral failings, targeting both national and local political figures. The tone was highly confrontational, with references to judicial investigations and political scandals.
  5. Mobility Ordinance and Low Emission Zones:
    Vox criticized the proposed new mobility ordinance, accusing the government of circumventing court rulings that annulled previous low-emission zones due to discrimination against vulnerable groups. The government defended the ordinance as a successful environmental and social sustainability model, pointing out that similar measures were approved by Vox in Valladolid.
  6. Urban Development Projects:
    • Ermita del Santo Area: The government presented a project to transform 44,000 m² into public hands, creating 530 new homes, green spaces, and facilities. Opposition parties questioned the social benefits, accusing the government of favoring private promoters and speculators.
    • Retiro District Special Plan: A plan to build a public sports facility and swimming pool was approved despite some opposition.
    • Bravo Murillo Street Special Plan: The demolition of a Neomudejar heritage building to build new housing was approved, provoking criticism from opposition groups about loss of historical heritage and inadequate preservation efforts.
  7. International Affairs – Gaza Strip Situation:
    The Socialist group proposed a motion condemning violence in Gaza, calling for cessation of hostilities and humanitarian aid support. This was met with strong opposition from the government team and Vox, who accused the Socialists and Más Madrid of supporting terrorism and aligning with extremist groups. The debate included accusations regarding Spain’s foreign policy and alliances.
  8. LGBTI+ Rights and Visibility:
    Más Madrid proposed raising the LGBTI+ flag on the Cibeles Palace façade during Pride and other measures to combat LGBTI+ phobia. The government opposed the motion, accusing the left of politicizing Pride and questioned the legitimacy of some demands. Vox rejected the proposal outright, denying the existence or scale of LGBTI+ phobia and accusing leftist groups of demagoguery. The Socialist group supported the initiative, emphasizing the need for protection and rights for LGBTI+ people.
  9. Housing Crisis and State Housing Agreement:
    The Socialist group called for Madrid’s active collaboration with the national government’s housing agreement to address the housing emergency, citing soaring prices and lack of affordable options. The government team criticized the state plan as ineffective and politically motivated, blaming both PSOE and PP for housing speculation and corruption. Más Madrid supported the Socialist initiative but criticized the PP’s housing policies as favoring speculation and neglecting public housing needs. Vox abstained or opposed various housing-related proposals.
  10. Voting Outcomes:
    Most government proposals, especially those from the Popular Party, were approved with support from their group and sometimes Vox, while PSOE and Más Madrid often opposed or abstained. Motions related to social issues like LGBTI+ rights and international humanitarian concerns were typically supported by the left-wing groups and opposed by the government and Vox.

Overall Analysis:

The session was highly polarized, reflecting deep ideological divides between the governing Popular Party and opposition groups, especially Más Madrid and PSOE, with Vox often taking a confrontational stance against left-wing initiatives. Key issues included urban development and housing, social rights, environmental policies, and international humanitarian concerns. The debates were marked by accusations of corruption, political hypocrisy, and differing visions for Madrid’s future, with the government emphasizing urban transformation and sustainability, while opposition groups stressed social justice, heritage preservation, and human rights.

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