During the Madrid Assembly plenary on June 4, 2026, Mariano de Paco responded to criticism over high temperatures in public schools by stating that heat can be a source of inspiration.
Madrid's regional culture counselor Mariano de Paco spoke during the Assembly plenary this Thursday. He responded to opposition complaints about the lack of air conditioning in classrooms by citing poet Vicente Medina and stating that he attended school in Murcia, where “cuando hace calor, hace calor”. He added that heat “a lo mejor es fuente de inspiración” and that he dressed his daughter in a short-sleeve shirt and shorts for school. Más Madrid spokesperson Manuela Bergerot criticized the remarks, saying “el calor en las aulas no es fuente de inspiración, es fuente de dolores de cabeza, de deshidratación y de desmayos”. The PSOE described them as evidence of “maldad, zafiedad, clasismo y negacionismo”. Isabel Díaz Ayuso replied that most of her counselors send their children to public education. The criticism adds to prior protests by families and unions, who have reported temperatures above 30 degrees and filed complaints with the Labor Inspectorate. Education counselor Mercedes Zarzalejo had made similar statements earlier in the week.
