Isabel Díaz Ayuso paid a visit to Critical View this morning, engaging in a candid conversation with Ana Terradillos about pressing political topics on the table. The Madrid regional president also weighed in on the latest viral parody of Polònia, the satirical program famous for its sharp twists on current events. In a playful nod to the show’s rhythm, the segment on Nebulossa was repurposed with a provocative new word: Facha.
Ayuso playfully offered her reaction, saying, I’m unsure which version I prefer, the original or the spoof, after the Telecinco segment aired the imitation. She joked, at least they don’t label me with crude terms here. I’d rather be seen as a journalist, a politician, or a woman—those descriptors feel more respectful to me.
Terradillos pressed the politician on whether her circle felt the video captured freedom of expression or simply anger. Ayuso replied that she had heard about it from many places, noting that the piece reached her from thousands of sources.
Her remarks then took a satirical turn as she listed a string of ironic hypotheticals: if every Madrid home has running water and a functional toilet, if tax cuts are enacted, and if the self-employed and shopkeepers are labeled fascists simply for earning an honest living. If scholarships are given to hardworking students who achieve good grades, those same people might be branded as fascists too.
Ayuso extended the satire by saying, Madrid is cast in a paradoxical light when it’s described as the leading hub for Pride, yet also as a site of traditional spectacle, the bullring, top-tier entertainment, and renowned olives—the imagery she used to illustrate the contradictions she perceives in the mockery. She labeled those who laugh at the mockery as fachas, a term tied to far-right connotations, and suggested the joke targets more than just political figures.
Terradillos asked whether the moment felt like a turning point for Ayuso within her party, the People’s Party (PP). She responded with light deflection, replying that she is already operating within her own orbit and jokingly asking what should be done with Alberto. Ayuso added that Madrid is a city through which a lot of people pass, and that its streets and nightlife have a vitality that captures attention worldwide. She observed that the city welcomed millions of visitors annually, suggesting the fascination lay in the energy and aesthetics, not just politics.
Concluding the exchange, Ayuso described herself as the leader of a region that serves Spain and its citizens. She claimed Madrid stands in a moment of high spirits and resilience, even if some brand her as fascist for the sheer pride she expresses in the city and its people. In her view, happiness and pride coexist with a controversial political identity, and she spoke of a Madrid she believes is thriving in spite of — or perhaps because of — intense scrutiny.