Reyes Maroto and Enma López secure avales for PSOE Madrid primary race

Both Reyes Maroto and Enma López have secured the minimum 823 avales required to compete in the PSOE primaries for the Madrid mayoral candidacy, setting up a direct contest on July 19 Source: infobae.

The two candidates differ in style and message. Maroto, the current PSOE spokesperson in the Madrid city council, presented her avales first, emphasizing "compromiso, constancia y confianza" and rejecting the "etiqueta" of being the party's official candidate Source: elespanol. López, who was Maroto's campaign director in 2023, collected around 1,000 avales according to her estimates, and framed her campaign as a "ola de ilusión" to end 37 years of conservative rule in Madrid Source: infobae.

• Maroto has avoided committing to integrating López into her team if she wins, saying she will go "partido a partido" Source: infobae.
• López, however, stated she would include Maroto and others from her project, saying the party cannot afford to waste talent Source: elmundoes.

The primary race has caused tension within the PSOE. While Ferraz and much of the party apparatus publicly backed Maroto, López's candidacy is seen as a challenge to the leadership's preferred strategy Source: elespanol. López's move has been described as a "pulso a Ferraz" Source: elmundoes. The winner will face incumbent mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida in the 2027 municipal elections.