The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has intensified his criticism of the central government by accusing Pedro Sánchez of being the main obstacle to increasing the staff of the Municipal Police. During a tribute to retired security workers in 2025, Almeida reiterated his demand to eliminate the replacement rate, which limits the recruitment of new officers.
Commitment to citizen security
Almeida emphasized that the City Council is committed to reaching 10,000 officers in the Municipal Police, a goal he considers essential for improving security in Madrid. However, he warned that this objective is threatened by the restrictions imposed by the government. "We would be able to take on the elimination of the replacement rate and have more municipal police in the city," Almeida stated.
The mayor did not hesitate to point to Sánchez as the direct responsible for the police deficit: "There aren't any, it's P.S.'s fault. He is the one preventing more municipal police from being available." This statement has sparked intense debate about the relations between the City Council and the central government.
When asked who P.S. is, Almeida described him as "the 'number one', the number one" and labelled him as "the head of the mafia."
The mayor's words come at a critical moment, as two days earlier, the Federation of Municipalities of Madrid had requested the central government to incorporate at least 1,500 additional agents from both the National Police and the Civil Guard to address the rise in crime in various Madrid municipalities.
The latest data from the Ministry of the Interior reveals a 2.3% increase in criminal offenses during the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year. Among the most affected municipalities are Alcorcón, with an alarming increase of 30.2%; San Fernando de Henares with 29.3%; San Sebastián de los Reyes with 28.9%; Coslada with 27.4%; and Collado Villalba with an increase of 21.4%.
As concerns about public safety grow in Madrid and its surroundings, Almeida's incendiary statements could further escalate political tensions between his administration and the central government. Pressure on Sánchez is mounting as an official response to these accusations and urgent demands from the City Council is awaited.
As local and regional elections approach, these issues are becoming increasingly relevant to Madrid voters. The management of public safety will undoubtedly be one of the key points in the upcoming political campaigns. With a citizenry concerned about their daily well-being and a tense political climate between different levels of government, it remains to be seen how Sánchez will respond to these demands and whether he will take effective measures to address the concerns raised by Almeida.
As 2026 progresses, both citizens and politicians will be watching closely how this critical situation unfolds to ensure greater security in Madrid.
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