Health Minister Mónica García announced on Saturday her intent to run in Más Madrid primaries against Isabel Díaz Ayuso, sparking tensions with deputy Emilio Delgado. They clash over the primaries model, particularly voter eligibility. The conflict surfaced in a Friday phone call and a Monday TV debate.
On Friday night, Health Minister Mónica García called deputy Emilio Delgado to inform him of her announcement the next day at a Más Madrid event in Madrid, where he was participating. "I'm jumping in tomorrow at the party," García said. Delgado replied: "I don't think it's right for you to announce it," citing an awkward situation, and García countered: "Nor did I like the Rufián thing," referring to Delgado's February event with Gabriel Rufián.
On Saturday, García confirmed her candidacy to lead the regional left against Ayuso, as in 2023. Delgado, aspiring to leadership for months, challenges party statutes requiring minimum annual event participation to vote. He seeks to expand voting to sympathizers, estimating under 1,000 voters under current rules versus 5,000-7,000 in prior processes.
On Monday in La Sexta's 'Al Rojo Vivo,' they debated live. García defended: "People come to participate, not to click," and "Anyone who participates in Más Madrid is a militant." Delgado insisted: "I'd like no one's right to vote limited" and called for a "democratic" process.
Más Madrid leadership backs García, while Delgado supporters see favoritism toward the apparatus. Sources from both sides express willingness for agreement, but the fight for party control remains open.
