Reyes Maroto has won the PSOE primaries and will compete again against Almeida in the 2027 elections. Her victory clears doubts about socialist leadership in the capital.
The former Minister of Industry, Reyes Maroto, has been chosen as the PSOE candidate for the Mayor of Madrid in the municipal elections of May 2027, after defeating Enma López in a closely contested primary. The vote, which took place last Sunday, confirms her position as the party leader at a crucial time for Madrid socialism. With this victory, Maroto aims to consolidate her political project and regain ground against the current mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who has governed for over three years. Maroto obtained a total of 1,376 endorsements, while López managed to gather 1,028 supports, reflecting a tighter competition than expected between the two candidates. Despite having the majority backing within the party and being the general secretary of PSOE Madrid Ciudad, Maroto faced a challenging campaign due to her rival's effective digital mobilization.
In her message after learning the results, Enma López congratulated Maroto and expressed her desire to join forces to face the PP in the upcoming elections: "Congratulations to Reyes Maroto for the result. Now we need to focus on defeating Almeida at the polls." This statement underscores the need for cohesion within the party in the face of a competitive electoral landscape.
The current political context is complex; the PSOE seeks to regain prominence after finishing as the third political force in the last municipal elections with only 16.75% of the votes. The strategy outlined by the party leadership includes not only Maroto's candidacy for Madrid but also the participation of Minister Óscar López in the race for the Presidency of the Community against Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
Despite the structural support Maroto received during her campaign, Enma López demonstrated a remarkable ability to mobilize digital resources and attract small donations; she raised approximately €4,800, far surpassing the €480 obtained by Maroto through traditional donations.
Both candidates agreed on their fundamental political proposals: affordable housing, urban cleanliness, and sustainable mobility are central issues they seek to address from their respective platforms. However, while Maroto advocates for continuing with a stable and known approach, López attempted to inject a fresh air into the socialist discourse.
The campaign was marked by internal tensions; Maroto accused López of disloyalty for presenting her candidacy without prior notice. Despite these public differences, both committed during a recent debate to maintain unity within the party after the primaries.
As the municipal electoral cycle approaches, the challenges are significant for Reyes Maroto: she must not only reaffirm her internal leadership but also design an effective strategy that allows her to surpass the Popular Party and thus regain the citizen support lost over the years. The coming weeks will be crucial in defining how this new political stage within the Madrid PSOE will be articulated and what concrete measures will be implemented to attract progressive voters back to its ranks.
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