Stormy Debate in Madrid: Ayuso Hits the Left, Citing Bad Bunny Lyrics

During Thursday's session of the Madrid Assembly, an unusual clash occurred between the government and the opposition. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the region, sarcastically addressed a proposal from the Más Madrid party, which had suggested honoring the artist Bad Bunny with a Gold Medal. Ayuso used the musician's work to undermine the ideological credibility of her opponents. By quoting song excerpts, she accused left-wing politicians of hypocrisy, pointing out their support for a creator whose lyrics are often described as chauvinistic and objectifying women. Ayuso's criticism was not limited to the cultural sphere. The President of Madrid used musical metaphors to avoid direct answers to tough questions about the situation in Móstoles. This case involves accusations of workplace harassment and sexual harassment, which a councilwoman has leveled against Mayor Manuel Bautista. The opposition accuses Ayuso of her envoys trying to silence the victim by dissuading her from filing an official complaint in court. Relations between the People's Party and the left-wing opposition in Spain have been characterized by a high degree of polarization for years, and parliamentary sessions in Madrid often become arenas for spectacular, media-friendly rhetorical clashes. Simultaneously, in Asturias, the leader of the local branch of the Sumar party proposed granting Bad Bunny the title of "adoptive son" of the region. He argued that the artist's music builds bridges between Spain and Latin America, recalling the historical emigration of Asturians. However, the singer's figure evokes extreme emotions; journalists like Alfonso Arús openly point to the machista nature of many of his compositions. Ayuso, referring to this debate, directly called on Más Madrid's spokesperson, Manuela Bergerot, to "dance perreo" on stage with the artist instead of lecturing others about feminism. „Why don't you go on stage and dance perreo with him, since you defend him so much in the name of feminism.” — Isabel Díaz Ayuso The phenomenon of using pop culture in political debate is becoming increasingly common in Spain. Ayuso, known for her sharp tongue and uncompromising stance, once again managed to impose her own narrative, diverting attention from personnel problems within her own party. However, her political opponents accuse her of cynicism and instrumentalizing women's rights to score image points, especially in the context of the artist's upcoming European concert tour. The Spanish political system is based on broad regional autonomy, meaning leaders like the President of Madrid influence not only local legislation but also shape public debate across the entire country. Madrid: 8, Barcelona: 2, Asturias: 0