Montse Mínguez García (Lleida, 1976) has been one of the PSOE leaders with the greatest public presence during the last stage of Pedro Sánchez. A member of Congress since 2019, a member of the Federal Executive and spokesperson for the party, her political career has been linked for more than two decades to Catalan socialism, first from the City Council of Lleida and later from national politics.
This Friday, October 16, Mínguez announced her decision to resign from the spokesperson position and from the Secretariat of Studies and Programs of the Federal Executive Commission of the PSOE, in addition to withdrawing from the socialist candidacy for Lleida for the general elections on November 29. The decision comes after several days of controversy over the information published about the real estate businesses of her partner, businessman Sergi Vélez.
"I have made the decision to take a step back, convinced that it is the best for the collective project to which I have dedicated my effort, my commitment, and my best energies," the leader explained in a statement released on her social networks. Although she does not explicitly mention her partner's activities, her departure occurs after the criticisms that this information has provoked in the opposition.
From councilor in Lleida to spokesperson of the Federal Executive of the PSOE
Born on July 2, 1976 in Lleida, Mínguez began her institutional career in municipal politics. She was a councilor in her city's City Council since 2003 and held government responsibilities during the socialist mandates, especially in the areas of Economy and Human Resources.
Between 2007 and 2019, she served as deputy mayor and, during her last four years in the corporation, she was also the spokesperson for the socialist municipal group. That stage was marked by her participation in the economic management of the council and her proximity to the functioning of local administration.
In 2019 she jumped to the Congress of Deputies, heading the PSC candidacy for Lleida. Since then, she has held a seat during the XIII, XIV, and XV legislatures, in addition to assuming various responsibilities within the Socialist Parliamentary Group.
Among her parliamentary functions are the socialist spokesperson in the Budget Committee, the general secretariat of the group, and the deputy spokesperson in the Board of Spokespersons. She has also been part of the Permanent Deputation and the Constitutional Commission.
Her incorporation into the federal leadership of the PSOE occurred within the framework of the 40th Congress of the party, held in 2021, when she assumed the Secretariat of Labor, Social Economy, and Self-Employment. Subsequently, she went on to hold the Secretariat of Studies and Programs and the spokesperson role of the Federal Executive, responsibilities she is now resigning from.
Economist and university professor
Before reaching her main political responsibilities, Mínguez developed an academic career linked to economics and public management. She holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Rovira i Virgili University and has a master's degree in Accounting, Auditing, and Management Control from the University of Lleida, completed in 2013.
She has also served as an associate professor at the University of Lleida, where she taught subjects related to control and budget management. Previously, she had taught classes in Macroeconomics, Public Sector Economics, and Econometrics.
Her professional profile, linked to public finance and administration, has accompanied much of her political activity, both in the Lleida City Council and in the economic commissions of Congress.
The real estate business of Sergi Vélez, the source of the controversy
The controversy preceding her resignation began with reports about Sergi Vélez, partner of the socialist leader and businessman linked to the real estate sector. According to what Artículo 14 published, Vélez is at the head of Nest Capital, a business group active in investment, promotion, and management of properties.
The investigation attributes to the business structure a portfolio of at least 30 homes and apartments intended for rent, as well as Vélez's participation in eleven companies. One of them, Nest Capital Homes, would have resorted to judicial eviction procedures for non-payment of rents.
The accounts for 2025 of this company would reflect assets worth 8.4 million euros and real estate investments of 6.3 million, according to the published information. For its part, El Español reported the existence of two companies in Panama linked to the family business group. The existence of these companies does not in itself imply any irregular activity.
The revelations gained special repercussion due to Mínguez's position as spokesperson for the PSOE and because of the prominence that rental regulation has had on the Government's political agenda. The Popular Party questioned the coherence between the housing policies defended by the socialists and the business activities of her representative's partner.
Mínguez's defense before announcing her resignation
The leader had publicly responded to the information days before announcing her departure. During an interview on Espejo Público, from Antena 3, she described the controversy as a "personal attack" and defended that Vélez's family business was acting within the law.
"Trying to sell that a company that is a family business is doing it wrong is a lie," Mínguez stated, who also defended the possibility of initiating eviction proceedings in cases of non-payment.
"If there is a tenant who does not pay, they are evicted; if there is a tenant who is a vulnerable family and has no housing alternative, they are protected," she affirmed. The socialist insisted that her partner was fulfilling his tax obligations and the housing legislation.
The matter also reached the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who, when asked in Brussels about Vélez's real estate activities, claimed to be unaware of them.
Also resigns from heading the PSC list for Lleida
Mínguez's departure comes just two days after the PSC federation in Lleida unanimously approved her continuation as head of the list for Congress for the general elections on November 29.
Her withdrawal now forces the party to reorganize the candidacy. In the proposal approved on Wednesday, Amador Marqués, deputy of Unitat d'Aran, was in second position, followed by Lorena González, mayor of Balaguer.
The socialist leadership will have to decide who will ultimately head the list, respecting the legal requirements for alternation between women and men. Mínguez's resignation does not imply the automatic rise of any of the candidates positioned behind her.
The PSOE thanks her for her career and respects her decision
After the resignation was announced, the PSOE expressed its respect for Mínguez's decision and thanked her for her dedication and commitment during the exercise of her organizational responsibilities.
The training has also highlighted the "passion" with which he has defended socialist values in his public interventions and his "coherence when voting according to his principles." In his statement, the party has claimed its "impeccable trajectory as a socialist".
Mínguez, for his part, has justified his withdrawal by appealing to the political moment that Spain is going through and the need to prioritize collective interests over personal considerations. In his farewell, he assured that he leaves "with a clear conscience, head held high, and loyalty intact to my principles".