Ayuso defends Miguel Ángel Rodríguez after his threat to a journalist: “Let’s see if now we can’t get angry with trusted people” | Madrid News

—It stings me and I don’t bleed with the question.

Almost a week after defending that her partner did not commit any tax fraud, and stating that she was the victim of a “murky case involving all the powers of the State”, the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, avoided this Monday give an opinion on the consequences that it may have for his political credit if it subsequently became known that the person under investigation admitted to the Treasury the commission of the crimes. It happens this morning in Arganda del Rey, where the conservative baroness spends a few minutes visiting excavators, greeting workers and listening to managers to then star in a script change typical of the Oscars. Because if on Wednesday, after the Government Council, Díaz Ayuso took on the defense of the accused in person, this Monday, surrounded by enthusiastic applause, it is time to say that the case has nothing to do with the Community of Madrid, and that, therefore Therefore, he has nothing to say or do. Except for a closed defense of her chief of staff, who last week threatened a journalist on WhatsApp in the context of this case.

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“Are we talking about credit at this point? “With everything that is happening in this country?” says Díaz Ayuso. “I respond for the Community of Madrid, which has nothing to do with this story,” says the president, who describes it as “chavista” and “very serious” that the tax inspection of a citizen is “going around by all means.” “I understand that we have to try to destroy me by land, sea and air, as the left and its media outlets try,” he adds, in a speech in which he also defends the continuity of his chief of staff, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (known as MAR). , despite having written a threatening message to a journalist from the digital newspaper eldiario.es in the context of the investigation of his partner’s case (“We are going to crush you, you are going to have to close down. Screw you. Idiots”).

“What has been seen is that two people who have a relationship of trust of more than 30 years argue over WhatsApp,” says the regional president, who accused the central Executive, chaired by Pedro Sánchez, of acting “desperately.” And she finished off the controversy: “Let’s see if now we can’t get angry with trusted people because everything is leaked.”

Despite the baroness’s argument, Más Madrid and the PSOE demand that she dismiss her chief of staff. The two parties have also asked that Rodríguez appear in the Assembly, which gives the measure of their hopes that Díaz Ayuso will no longer rely on José María Aznar’s former Secretary of State. The group led by Juan Lobato wants this communication specialist, who earns a public salary of 94,324.20 euros gross, to explain “the degree of compliance in the performance of his duties in accordance with the principles indicated in the ethical code of senior officials.” positions of the Administration of the Community of Madrid.” And the party led by Manuela Bergerot (Más Madrid) will provoke a vote in the plenary session on her continuity as a public office.

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The relationship between Díaz Ayuso and Rodríguez goes back a long way and is based on two moments in their career. The first was when a MAR, recently brought to power as an advisor to José María Aznar, decided in 1996 to provide a final year project to a young journalism student; the second, when at Christmas 2018 both traveled by AVE to Calamocha (Teruel) for a radio interview. Today Rodríguez is Díaz Ayuso’s Chief of Staff. But not only that. Is much more. Adviser. Accomplice. Munidor. Not just the man who makes sure his schedule is manageable. More much more. Almost a second father. It is enough to review the words that the regional president dedicated to her at the campaign closing rally for the pandemic elections (May 4, 2021).

“In addition to being my chief of staff, he is, above all, my friend,” the president of Madrid said then. “And he is every day,” she wanted to emphasize. “He left behind his chores, his projects, and enrolled in this wonderful adventure,” she added. And she revealed: “He is for me, he is a squire, a protector, a companion on adventures, the person who amuses me the most, who inspires me the most and who teaches me the most.”

Rodríguez has flirted with leaving the regional government in recent months. Turning 60, he sees retirement age approaching while business opportunities in the private world are accumulating. For now, he remains at the Real Casa de Correos, headquarters of the regional government, because the day-to-day work of his political communication, the clash with journalists, and the commitment to never admitting a mistake in the midst of a controversy are what Rodríguez feels like. oxygen for the rest of us mortals. There is another key factor: Díaz Ayuso is willing to count on him no matter what happens.

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