Madrid fails to sell 6.3 million euro penthouse as minister defends purchase in Assembly
Planifica Madrid received zero bids in a 6.7 million euro auction for a Chamberí penthouse, while regional minister Miguel Ángel García Martín defended the initial 6.3 million euro purchase before the Madrid Assembly.
Failed auction and assembly testimony
On 17 September 2026, the public company Planifica Madrid declared the auction for a luxury penthouse on Paseo de General Martínez Campos deserted after receiving zero bids. The regional government had set the starting price at 6.7 million euros to offload the Chamberí property it purchased for 6.3 million euros on 14 April 2026. The announcement coincided with the appearance of Miguel Ángel García Martín, the regional minister of Presidency, Justice and Local Administration, before the Madrid Assembly to address the acquisition. García Martín maintained that the asset was procured entirely through the public enterprise's own funds without additional regional contributions.
- Planifica Madrid purchases the Chamberí penthouse for 6.3 million euros
- Presidency department issues a needs assessment report justifying institutional use
- Purchase is publicly reported, leading the regional government to announce an auction
- Auction closes with zero bids as regional minister defends the purchase in the Assembly
Justification of the acquisition
During his parliamentary address, García Martín denied allegations that the penthouse was intended as an official residence for regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso. He presented documentation to the chamber, including a needs assessment report prepared by the Presidency department dated 2 July 2026, nearly three months after the transaction took place. According to García Martín, the property was selected to serve as complementary institutional workspace during ongoing renovations at the Real Casa de Correos, which began in 2025. The report also outlined uses for crisis management and temporary lodging for visiting dignitaries or regional authorities.
The Community of Madrid never bought a property as a residence for the president who, as always, lives in her own house.
- Purchase price (April 2026)
- 6.3 million euros
- Auction starting price (September 2026)
- 6.7 million euros
Clashes across the parliamentary floor
Opposition parties in the Assembly attacked the explanations, focusing on the timing of the justification documents and the spending authority granted to Planifica Madrid CEO Pedro Corbalán. The parliamentary debate produced disorderly exchanges across the floor, prompting Assembly President Enrique Ossorio to intervene directly.
Are you not so interested in this appearance? Then be quiet, be quiet. Be quiet!
PSOE representatives accused the administration of drafting retroactive reports to manufacture legal backing for an arbitrary decision, questioning what will happen to the 23 million euros promised for the Sierra Oeste area. Más Madrid deputy Hugo Martínez Abarca directed criticism at the regional spokesperson, arguing that García Martín was deployed solely to deflect scrutiny away from Ayuso.
You are nobody, you are the puppet who has been brought out to take the blows that belong to her.
Political fallout and unresolved funds
The controversy over the Chamberí penthouse began after its purchase was publicly reported on 29 July 2026, when it emerged that Planifica Madrid had leased the property to the regional administration. While Ayuso initially characterized the flat as a temporary office, the regional executive subsequently pledged to auction the property and allocate all proceeds to wildfire reconstruction across the region. With the 6.7 million euro tender failing to attract any buyers, the regional government retains ownership of the vacant asset as opposition parties continue to demand full access to the complete procurement file.
