Ayuso appoints Gallardón, Aguirre and Cifuentes for a consulting position for which they opt to charge tens of thousands of euros a year

Isabel Díaz Ayuso has appointed three former presidents of the Community of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Esperanza Aguirre, and Cristina Cifuentes, as advisory members of the Regional Legal Advisory Commission. The move allows these individuals, all affiliated with the Popular Party (PP), to potentially earn tens of thousands of euros annually through attendance fees for meetings of this body. Each member will receive 750 euros net per session they attend. According to the annual report of the commission’s plenary sessions in 2025, which held 45 meetings, each of these former leaders could have earned up to 33,750 euros net annually had they attended all sessions. Combined, their potential earnings would exceed 100,000 euros. The appointment marks a reversal of policy following Cifuentes' dissolution of the regional advisory council in 2015, which previously allowed ex-presidents to draw public funds. Ayuso introduced the possibility of such compensation by approving the statute for former regional presidents in 2025. These three politicians were named to the commission at the end of July. If they are called to four plenary sessions per month and attend them, they would earn 3,000 euros net per month. A spokesperson for the Presidency Council, led by Miguel Ángel García Martín, explained that the stipends depend on the number of plenary sessions attended. “If they don’t attend, they won’t get anything,” the spokesperson added, noting that absences could result from incompatibility or personal reasons. The stipend is incompatible with post-tenure compensation and other public remuneration. Originally, the government proposed lower payments for advisory members. Public documents reviewed by El País indicate that the initial proposal suggested a maximum payment of 459 euros per session for members of the Regional Legal Advisory Commission. However, the final decision increased this amount by 291 euros, bringing it to 750 euros per session, a 63 percent increase. Membership in the advisory body, including the stipend, can last a maximum of six years from the date of appointment. For former presidents who served more than four years in office, the term can be extended to twelve years. This condition applies to Leguina, Gallardón, Aguirre, and future President Ayuso. According to an insider familiar with internal administrative procedures, it makes sense for former officials with extensive experience to contribute their institutional insights while receiving compensation. “In the Council of State, former presidents are members and nothing happens,” the source noted. In 2025, the commission held 45 plenary sessions, compared to 43 in both 2024 and 2023. Had the former presidents attended all these sessions, they would have earned over 33,000 euros annually, surpassing 90,000 euros in a three-year period. To qualify for the position, former regional presidents must apply and meet two conditions: having held office for at least two years and assuming the role at the beginning of a legislative term. This provision excludes former presidents Ignacio González, who faces legal issues related to the Lezo case, and Ángel Garrido, who clashed with Ayuso after switching to Citizens. Pedro Rollán, currently serving as president of the Senate, is also ineligible for membership in the commission. Similarly, Joaquín Leguina, a former PSOE president and current head of the Court of Auditors, cannot join due to his current role. Former members of the advisory council, which was dissolved in 2015, received 8,500 euros gross monthly (5,500 net), along with official cars and assistants. When Díaz Ayuso took office, she did not restore this system, instead introducing a new framework for former officials. The exact financial implications of her appointments remain under scrutiny, particularly given the high potential earnings and the political context surrounding the selection of these individuals.