Madrid’s Parliament: A New Era of Expense or Entitlement?
In a move that has raised eyebrows across Madrid, the regional Assembly has dramatically increased its annual budget for the taxi expenses of its 135 deputies, pushing the total to a staggering 270,000 euros. This decision, revealed through public documentation consulted by EL PAÍS, translates into an additional 500 euros available for each representative, allowing them to spend up to 2,000 euros annually on taxi services, should they choose to do so.
The timing of this significant financial enhancement is particularly striking, coinciding with a period in which deputies have seen their salaries increase four times within the last two years. The decision, adopted by the Mesa – the governing body of the Chamber – also arrives as the region gears up for the next autonomous electoral cycle, slated for 2027, which could usher in a shift in the parliamentary majority.
The “Adjustment” that Raises Questions
The genesis of this increase can be traced back to April 10, 2026, when Ana Millán (PP), First Vice-President of the Assembly, inquired about adjusting the taxi service allowances during a Mesa meeting. The administrative director of the regional Parliament provided the response: “Following the extension and modification of the current taxi contract, from July 1 to December 31, 2026, the cards will be recharged with an additional 500 euros to the initial credit remaining for each user, with the global credit per card for 2026 being 2,000 euros.” For the subsequent year, due to a change in legislature, cards will be loaded proportionally to an annual credit of 2,000 euros from January 1 until the end of the legislature.
Despite this pronouncement, the increment has yet to be officially formalized. A spokesperson for the taxi association providing the service noted only an “informal conversation” regarding the matter, stating, “There is no formal document on our part.” However, a spokesperson for the Assembly, presided over by Enrique Ossorio (PP), confirmed the agreement, detailing that “The Mesa unanimously approved to increase the allocation for taxi services for deputies to carry out their political work by 500 euros, reaching 2,000 annually.” The Assembly spokesperson also drew a comparison to the Congress of Deputies, where the allowance stands at 3,000 euros, and highlighted that the Assembly’s amount “had not been updated since 2010.”
A Pattern of Increases: Salaries and Subsidies
The argument that this improvement merely updates an outdated allowance overlooks a critical point: deputies are not obligated to travel by taxi. This justification mirrors those used for the deputies’ basic salary increases, which have occurred four times in the past two years. Consequently, representatives with exclusive dedication will earn a basic salary of over 4,000 euros gross in 2026, thanks to the fourth salary hike decided in December 2025. This cumulative 13% increase, opposed by Más Madrid and Vox, was accompanied by a 4% improvement in party subsidies, seemingly ignoring criticisms from the Court of Accounts.
The basic salary for deputies retroactively rose to 3,980.09 euros in 2025, up from 3,883.02 euros previously, and 3,573.53 euros at the end of 2024 when the series of increases began. This trend shows no signs of slowing. According to the recently adopted agreement, the basic allowance will increase by another 1.5% in 2026, potentially reaching 2% depending on the year’s CPI evolution, mirroring a state-level agreement. This would push the basic salary to at least 4,039.79 euros.
Beyond the basic salary, substantial complements are added for holding key roles within the Assembly: ranging from 577.31 gross euros monthly for committee secretaries and vice-presidents, to 2,413.58 euros for the Chamber presidency, 1,655.83 euros for co-spokespersons, and 2,074.24 euros for spokespersons.
The Madrid Assembly justified the salary increases by linking them to those decided by the State for the public sector as a whole. However, there is no obligation to apply this measure to elected politicians. This decision, it appears, is a matter of political will among Madrid’s parties.
Party Subsidies Under Scrutiny
The increase in party subsidies is another discretionary decision viewed critically by the Court of Accounts. A December report scrutinizing the 2024 accounts revealed a 10% increase in the fixed subsidy and a 12.2% increase in the variable subsidy for parties in the Madrid Assembly, totaling 4.8 million euros in public funds for PP, Más Madrid, PSOE, and Vox. The auditing body lamented “the lack of objective criteria to determine the amount” and “the lack of internal regulation that specifies the nature of the expenses to which the subsidy should apply.”
The Court of Accounts highlighted that the current regulation for controlling these expenses by the Comptroller’s Office “is insufficient,” and that the justification for expenses made with public money “either does not exist or is not detailed in the reports.” This call for restraint, based on the decisions adopted, seems to have gone unheeded – not in salaries, nor in subsidies, nor in assistance for their majesties to travel by taxi.
The revelations paint a picture of a political class in Madrid seemingly prioritizing its own financial benefits amidst broader economic concerns. As the 2027 elections approach, the public will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if these decisions impact the trust and confidence in their elected representatives.
