The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has explained that since April he was aware that the Madrid Executive led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso was looking for a space for "a temporary relocation" of the secretariat team and the Presidency cabinet while the remodeling works were being carried out at the Real Casa de Correos of the Puerta del Sol, the current headquarters of the regional Government. He also pointed out that a property was acquired that, "it seems," "cannot be allocated to an office."
"The Community of Madrid has given all the explanations it considers appropriate to clarify what has happened," Feijóo stated when questioned about the controversy generated around the purchase of a penthouse in Chamberí by the regional Executive through Planifica Madrid. That property has now been put up for sale by Ayuso's Government with a starting price of 6.7 million, with the aim of obtaining resources to cover the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste after the fire that devastated about 30,000 hectares.
In an interview with Europa Press, Feijóo detailed that in April he was summoned to an "informal" meeting with members of the Government of the Community of Madrid in Sol, where he was informed that "remodeling works" were going to be undertaken because "there were problems" with the plumbing, the air conditioning system, and the state of conservation of the property. In that meeting, he said, he was informed that "places" were being "sought" to temporarily relocate the "office of the president and the six, seven, or eight positions" of his "secretariat and cabinet attention."
When asked if, in his opinion, there has been a lack of transparency in the purchase and subsequent sale of the penthouse, and if he considers the explanations offered to be sufficient, Feijóo emphasized that "the Community of Madrid has given explanations that there is a decision for temporary relocation while the works are carried out."
The national leader of the PP has insisted that a property was acquired that "could not be allocated to an office" and has stressed that it has been decided to put it on the market "to finance the problems of the fires in the Community of Madrid." "It is evident that the Heritage of the Community of Madrid will have to explain why it bought a property that cannot be allocated to an office with the interest of having an office located there. That is all," he concluded.
"WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET"
Questioned afterwards about whether in these weeks he has spoken directly with President Ayuso due to this matter being at the center of public debate, Feijóo answered: "We have spoken with the president's cabinet and the information we were given matches." He then reiterated that since April he "knew that they were looking for premises to make that move."
Regarding whether he believes that regional presidents should have an official residence, Feijóo recalled that he had one during his time at the head of the Xunta de Galicia, due to the "unnecessary tension" that the constant presence of inhibitors and police forces generated in his own neighborhood. He emphasized that this residence had also been used by the presidents who preceded him.
"I do not find it incorrect in any case for there to be residences for the presidents of autonomous communities," he pointed out. In his view, this type of property facilitates the protection of the head of the regional Executive, the work of the agents who "guard him 24 hours" and the possibility of carrying out his work and holding meetings in an institutional environment. In his opinion, it is an "absolutely reasonable" and "useful" measure.