Aguirre Remains Untouched Amid Madrid Corruption Scandals and Golf Course Saga

Esperanza Aguirre, the former head of the Comunidad de Madrid, continues to face no charges despite a string of corruption cases linked to her administration. She appeared in the Audiencia Nacional as a witness, praising the idea of a central-city golf course she had seen in Tokyo and in films, while claiming she learned of the scandal only through the press. The 14-million-euro course was built in Chamberí after the Madrid city council rejected the licence and the regional government invoked a public-interest decree.

Numerous senior officials from her tenure, including Alberto López Viejo, Alfredo Prada, and Francisco Granados, have received prison sentences for related graft, but the anti-corruption prosecutor concluded there was no proof Aguirre knew of the wrongdoing. Earlier accusations, such as a 2014 traffic-violation case and meetings with police chief José Manuel Villarejo, also failed to result in convictions. Aguirre now writes political commentary, asserting that resignations are the honest response when collaborators are detained, even as many of her former aides remain imprisoned or under investigation.