Esperanza Aguirre drew considerable attention over the weekend for her participation in a protest outside the PSOE headquarters. Just one day later, on Sunday afternoon, the former president of the Community of Madrid explained why she joined the event and addressed a message from Celia Villalobos in a televised discussion on laSexta. The moment captured multiple viewpoints and sparked quick responses as the situation unfolded.
During an appearance at the laSexta studio, Aguirre described her decision to attend the rally with a note of humor and practical reasoning. She recalled being contacted by her production company and, thinking it referred to an event from the previous day, she adjusted her plans. She noted that around 17:10 the vehicle she expected had not arrived, and she was told that the activity would occur the next day. Her decision to participate, she said, stemmed from the proximity of the demonstration to her residence and from a sense of civic engagement, tempered by her belief that circumstances should be understood in context.
She stressed that she was not responsible for obstructing traffic on Ferraz Street, explaining that the traffic situation had already started to form before her arrival and that the perception of the scene was shaped by the presence of others at the location. Aguirre mentioned that there were several individuals nearby and that what was seen on television did not fully reflect the number of participants or the dynamics at the site. In recounting the moment, she recalled telling a TV interviewer that there were more leaders than followers present, highlighting the impression of a relatively small turnout in that instance.
Her remarks on the event came amid a conversation with the host, in which she clarified that she understood the gathering was not formally authorized as a concentration. She emphasized a distinction between what the public labeled as a concentration and what she viewed as a spontaneous meeting organized through social networks. According to her account, the gathering did not resemble a large demonstration, and the number of attendees did not correspond to what some observers might assume. She reaffirmed that the essence of the situation lay in a modest assembly rather than a formally organized protest, insisting that the event grew out of informal invitations and online coordination rather than official calls.
Reacting to Celia Villalobos, who publicly criticized Aguirre’s participation, Aguirre conveyed that Villalobos’ stance represented a serious mischaracterization and did not reflect her own views. On laSexta, the host noted that Aguirre seemed to align with Villalobos’ sentiment while also preserving her own perspective on the matter. In that exchange, Aguirre asserted her position with firmness and clarity, underscoring a need to separate personal decisions from broader party alignment.
In a later moment, Aguirre appeared to acknowledge a suggestion that she may not be the sole voice representing certain voters, inviting consideration of who might better reflect the electorate’s preferences. She voiced a sense of cautious optimism about the outreach of the movement, expressing hope that future gatherings would attract a larger audience. On the matter of November 18, she conveyed a forward-looking sentiment, wishing for the event in Cibeles to draw more participants than the one held at Colón and signaling confidence in a growing public response.