Madrid region blames Interior Ministry for tolerating Sol camp and shifting eviction to local police

On Sunday, the Community of Madrid formally charged the Ministry of the Interior, through the Delegation of the Government, with permitting the illegal encampment that has taken hold at Puerta del Sol and then attempting to delegate its clearance to the municipal police. Regional sources claim the ministry’s conduct breaches the law because eviction authority rests with the Policía Nacional. The complaint mirrors an earlier protest from the Ayuntamiento de Madrid, which was the first to denounce the delegation’s tolerance of the squatters in the tourist-heavy square.

The city administration recalled that during the 2011 15-M demonstrations, the delegation organized coordinated evictions, and it now demands an explanation for one outlet handling, accusing the delegation of negligence and incompetence. Officials stressed the need to restore normalcy at the plaza as soon as possible. The mayor’s office expressed surprise and indignation, urging the central government to take direct responsibility rather than shifting the burden to local authorities.