From the Plaza de la Villa, the herald of the San Isidro Festivities delivered a speech that has been described as one of the most notable in recent years. With a firm and visibly emotional voice, the speaker addressed various issues affecting life in the capital.
“"It hurts me, as it hurts everyone, that one has to be a vulture and not a dove to live here."
Among the main demands, the housing problem stood out, pointing out the difficulty of accessing it in Madrid. She also expressed concern about the “wound of modernity,” referring to the closure of bookstores and small businesses that, in her words, “empty the landscape of a lifetime” in the neighborhoods.
The herald praised Madrid as “kilometer zero of all illusions” and a welcoming place for everyone, describing it as a “mother” who adopts without prejudice. She also criticized those who use the city's name as a synonym for power, stating that “there is no nationalist, no independentist who doesn't want to stay” in the capital.
The speech included feminist nods, recalling the women in her family who preceded her in Madrid. At the end, she gave the traditional cheers, including women in her final greeting: “Long live Madrid, long live San Isidro and Santa María de la Cabeza, long live the king and queen.”
This marks the first time a woman has delivered the San Isidro Festivities proclamation since the current mayor took office, breaking a five-year streak of male heralds. The previous year, footballer Dani Carvajal focused his speech on the hedonism of beers and terraces.
