Controversy Erupts Over Nursing Home Testimonies as Madrid Officials Defend Actions
In a recent development, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Chief of Staff to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of Madrid, publicly acknowledged his error in questioning the validity of a family member's testimony regarding the treatment of deceased loved ones in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his admission of a mistake, he declined calls for him and Ayuso to meet directly with the families of the victims, who have long accused them of negligence and labeled the president as a murderer.
Rodríguez stated, "I made a mistake, I have recognized it, I have apologized, and I am not giving this matter any more importance." His remarks were made before attending the Easter proclamation ceremony in Valladolid at the Real Casa de Correos in Puerta del Sol. He reiterated that he did not access any personal data regarding the family member's account that he previously questioned, although he had previously claimed on social media that he verified the absence of the witness's mother from a Madrid nursing home.
This controversy erupted following a segment on the television show hosted by Jordi Évole on La Sexta, where the testimonies of nursing home victims' families were shared. Rodríguez's social media rebuttals to these accounts have sparked increased backlash from the public and political adversaries alike.
When questioned about resignations demanded by opposition parties, including Más Madrid and PSOE, Rodríguez firmly rejected these requests and offered no further statements addressing the grief-stricken families of the deceased. His initial skepticism concerning the testimonies raised further concerns, especially when he tweeted that if the individuals provided their names, he would ascertain the truth of their claims and the frequency of their visits to relatives in the nursing homes.
This incident underscores a broader issue of accountability surrounding the handling of nursing homes in Madrid throughout the pandemic, a matter that continues to provoke strong emotions and demands for justice among affected families.
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