Madrid president defends Romanian workers while sparring with Vox over immigration policy

In a heated debate in the Madrid Community Parliament, President Isabel Díaz Ayuso highlighted a Romanian worker who has lived, paid taxes and integrated in the region, stating she would prioritize his welfare over a criminal Spanish illegal occupant. Vox deputy Isabel Pérez Moñino charged the regional administration with attracting more migrants than its infrastructure can support, urging a shift away from what she called Madrid’s “NGO-like” immigration stance.

Ayuso responded that the criteria for public policy should be respect for the law, integration and societal contribution, not a person’s origin, and called for balanced, not massive, population growth. She also noted demographic challenges and the need for investments in transport, health and education to accommodate growth, while blaming the national government and left-wing parties for illegal immigration. The exchange underscored the political tension surrounding immigration in Spain, especially given the sizable Romanian community, which numbers over 1.14 million registered residents.