Shortly before 11.00 am, the former Prime Minister, José María Aznar, let his arm rest, in the form of an affectionate greeting, on José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the mayor of Madrid. Manuel Pizarro, who was Rajoy's economic guru for the 2008 election, smiled as he contemplated the scene in Plaza de Colón. It wasn't a chance encounter, obviously. The three were essential ingredients of the colloquium that was going to be held at the Emilia Pardo Bazán Cultural Center, which was the emergency solution for the wind that whipped Madrid, since the initial appointment was at Club Financiero de Génova, a few meters from there. The 'popular' trio completed the walk before the curious look of those who walked through the place. "Look, that one over there was the one who put the flag here," summed up one of the passers-by.

Already on the stage of a suffocating room of the Cultural Center, Pizarro, who acted as moderator, and great friend of both, opened fire: "In reality it is not necessary to moderate anything, because they are two moderate guys." And Aznar made use of his classics, this time applied to the capital. "Madrid is doing well," proclaimed the former president, to the smile of Martínez-Almeida, at the other end of the podium. "For him I joined the PP when I turned 18. We must take note for the future that lies ahead," replied the mayor.

An appointment in electoral key that acquired a national panorama from the first moment. "Spain is not a state, but a historic nation. Spain is a nation of free and equal citizens," Aznar began, before pointing to Pedro Sánchez. "The main problem that Spain has is separatism. With two fundamental aspects: Catalonia and the Basque Country. And that is decisive to form the Government. Sanchez cannot be in Moncloa without separatists and terrorists. If they win, the next price is called a consultation. The only way to avoid that is a strong PP government, with Madrid as the capital of everything," he said.

And in that terrain entered Almeida, whose campaign is focused on the fight against Sanchismo. "Sánchez has that obsession with Madrid, for being the best symbol of what constitutionalism can achieve. We have a commitment to the Spanish nation. Madrid for Sánchez is a counterweight. All that is at stake both in Madrid and in December. We will only be able to restore the bases of coexistence if the PP is at the front. There are millions of Spaniards who expect an answer from us, "said the councilor, who settled: "If Sánchez continues, the end of the road will be the consultations."

Aznar recalled the four attacks that ETA attempted against him (one of them, in 1995, hit his car), regarding the lists of Bildu with convicted terrorists. "They even threw missiles at the plane that were guarded by a councilman from Batasuna," he recalled. "It's about why Sanchez makes a pact with these people. In the Senate it was clear that there is a person who has the stature of president (Feijóo), and another who guaranteed that he will agree again with Bildu. Madrid has to do what it is doing and more," he added.

Almeida did not hide his smile with every argument of Aznar. "Madrid is going well, but it will be better from 28-M," continued the former president who, however, does not vote in the capital (he lives in Pozuelo). "If I lived here, I would vote for you. I know many people who want to come to Madrid, but few who want to leave. Where the law ends, chaos begins. And Madrid represents the opposite," he added. And he dropped an idea: "We must recover meritocracy, which is the world of opportunities. That is fundamental, and that in Madrid, a free city, must be understood."

And the mayor continued along that path: "Madrid has the leadership of the different changes and that is what we want to articulate in these elections. Not only will they have the government that best knows how to manage, but it wants to lead the example of constitutional Spain."

Between dialogue on economy and talks about Spain, there was a memory for the debate of the candidates to the Community of Madrid. "Last night there were several policies. That of all against Ayuso, from hatred. And that of the president's Madrid policies. We already know what we have to face in the coming days, a left eager to put an end to the model of freedom. If we are able to agglutinate that vote, it will be the step so that Feijóo can be president of the Government, "he launched, less than a week before his municipal debate.

And the three gave each other a last hug and, at full speed, dodging microphones and cameras, which had already talked enough, escaped the race.

  • Madrid Elections
  • Articles Carlos Guisasola

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