Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Isabel Díaz Ayuso of using public funds to purchase a luxury penthouse in Madrid.

The allegation targets the intersection of public spending and personal benefit, raising questions about the ethical conduct of one of Spain's most prominent regional leaders.

Sánchez said that Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid, acquired a luxury apartment in the Chamberí district. According to the Prime Minister, the property was purchased using more than 6 million euros [1] of public funds from the Community of Madrid.

The acquisition took place in April 2026 [2]. While the property was officially acquired by the Community of Madrid for the use of the regional president, Sánchez said the move was an attempt to secure a private residence using taxpayer money.

"What it seems is that this lady wanted to buy herself a big penthouse with the money of the Madrileños to live in it and she has been caught," Sánchez said.

The Prime Minister said that the Partido Popular, Ayuso's political party, has "a serious problem." He said that the purchase represents a pattern of using public resources for personal gain rather than for the benefit of the citizens of Madrid.

Sánchez said that Ayuso wanted to buy a penthouse with the money of the Madrileños, suggesting that the official purpose of the purchase was a cover for personal interest.

This confrontation marks a deepening of the political rift between the national government and the Madrid regional administration. The focus on the Chamberí property centers on whether the expenditure of more than 6 million euros [1] was a legitimate administrative cost or an abuse of power.

“"This lady wanted to buy herself a big penthouse with the money of the Madrileños."”

This accusation intensifies the ongoing political conflict between the socialist national government and the conservative regional government of Madrid. By framing the luxury purchase as a theft of public funds, Sánchez is attempting to damage the credibility of the Partido Popular and position Ayuso as an emblem of corruption, which could influence future electoral dynamics in the capital region.