If there is one thing that is clear, it is that Reyes Maroto is not a prophet in his land. There are few neighbors who know the former Minister of Industry, in Alcorcón, the town where she lives. "It doesn't ring a bell", "no idea", "and who is that? The PP?" they answer again and again.

Like many other Madrileños, Maroto lives more in the area of his work than in his place of residence. Born in Valladolid, the socialist candidate for mayor of Madrid will not be able to vote for herself in these elections, since she is registered in Alcorcón, where she has lived with her family for years,

The former minister does frequent some bars on the lively Avenida de las Retamas, the busiest neighborhood to go out on weekends in this municipality in the southwest of the region. In this residential area of Alcorcón there are many urbanizations with swimming pools, terraced villas and green areas with equipment for outdoor gymnastics.

The former minister is a regular customer of Al Oeste del Pisco, one of those bars of a lifetime. On the other side of the bar, Sergio Ramirez peels and cuts potatoes at lightning speed. "She's very normal, very street-wise. We didn't know her, but we were alerted by a client. Here we treat her as one more. I wish she came out because she's a worthwhile aunt."

What Ramírez does not forget is his partner's blunder. "She served Reyes and her husband a tapa of chorizo and told them it was: 'A politician's tapa.' And the husband started looking at her with a face...", she recalls with a smile.

A city of the 'red belt'

In Alcorcón, Maroto steps on friendly territory. This municipality is part of the so-called red belt, one of the usual strongholds of the PSOE, along with Fuenlabrada, Getafe, Leganés and Móstoles. However, despite being traditional socialist strongholds, these large cities in the south of the Community voted en masse for the PP in the regional elections two years ago.

Therefore, the great unknown in these 2023 elections is to know if the socialist mayors will keep the baton of command or if these localities will be dyed blue.

It should not be forgotten that the 2021 electoral appointment was somewhat atypical, since it occurred after the rupture of the regional government with Ciudadanos. Those elections were marked by the policies followed by Isabel Díaz Ayuso during the coronavirus pandemic and did not coincide with municipal elections. Now, the situation is very different because the aldermen are campaigning to defend their fiefdoms.

In fact, in the PP they are aware that that May 4 Ayuso received a lot of borrowed votes from the PSOE and other formations. The question now is whether the discontent with Sanchez's national policy for the pacts with Bildu or for the releases of sex offenders with the yes is yes law will translate into a vote of punishment in the municipal.

Threats to the PP candidate

Given this situation, the PP has high hopes of recovering Alcorcón, where the dispute will be very close. His internal polls give him the victory and he has sent there the deputy and former mayor of Boadilla del Monte, Antonio González Terol.

The popular candidate woke up yesterday with some graffiti at the party headquarters that read: "Terol we are going to kill you." The former mayor replied in the networks that those who use violence do not fit in Alcorcón. "There will be no peace for them," he said.

The move to place Terol is similar to what was already done in his day with David Pérez, the last mayor who had the PP in the town, who governed from 2011 to 2019, and who, currently, is Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

In the last four years, Natalia de Andrés has governed in the municipality in coalition with Ganar Alcorcón. The councilor was sentenced to five years of disqualification for administering other people's assets of public or private ownership, being considered subsidiary responsible for bringing the Municipal Real Estate Management Company of Alcorcón (Emgiasa) to insolvency.

De Andrés decided at the last minute not to stand for election, despite the fact that her candidacy was officially announced, and was replaced by Candelaria Testa, current councilor for Finance and Heritage.

Reyes Maroto, yesterday, visiting Usera, his first home when he arrived in Madrid at the age of 22.

In Alcorcón, as in many other towns in Madrid, anger and disaffection with politicians is increasing. "Reyes Maroto? I do not think it has a pull for the City Council. The PSOE has other better-known politicians such as Carmen Calvo. Here in Alcorcón people are going to vote a lot for Jesús Santos, from Ganar Alcorcón, who has managed the garbage company," says Isidro, who is surnamed Labrador after the saint. This retiree from Burgos, who has been living in the town for more than 30 years, then adds: "Politics interests me less and less."

Sitting on a bench are María and Manuela, two retirees who come walking from the center of town to La Ribota park to take a walk.

-Here in Alcorcón we are shit up with squatters and garbage. There is a lot of insecurity. This mayor has done nothing right. And besides, it is denounced for I don't know what - criticizes Manuela.

-Ayuso I love it. She is simple and how clear she speaks. Also, I don't have to pay for public transport and I owe that to her. In my house, we all voted for Isabel. And Almeida neither fu nor fa. I have neither complaint nor glory - argues his friend Maria.

Lying to Pedro Sánchez is like reminding them of the devil. "He's a fake and a liar. It is valid for model, but for nothing else. He said that he could not sleep peacefully with Podemos in the Government and then he has slept soundly. And now it is associated with the bilduetarras," they complain.

A few meters away, in the herbalist of Maribel has mounted an improvised gathering, which would already like those of Telemadrid. Maribel laments that politicians only stop by her business every four years to hand out their leaflets. At his side, David, 25, shows his disappointment: "I voted for Podemos because I was ignorant and now I see the aberrations they say. Then, I voted for Vox and now I don't vote for anyone. Democracy is a scam."

Maribel is also angry "about the misuse of taxes." "Spain is a company and you have to know how to manage it. Then the PP has to come to fix what has destroyed the PSOE. The first thing they have to do is worry about their country," she concludes indignantly.

  • Alcorcón
  • Reyes Maroto
  • PSOE

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