José Luis Martínez-Almeida Navasqüés

José Luis Martínez-Almeida Navasqüés is a PP politician and the current Mayor of Madrid. He has led the capital since 2019.

Political career

José Luis Martínez-Almeida Navasqüés was born in 1975 and trained as a lawyer, building his public career through municipal politics in Madrid. Before entering elected office, he worked in the legal sphere, which shaped his technocratic and institutional style.

He entered the Madrid City Council in 2015 as a councillor for the Partido Popular, at a time when the PP had lost control of the city after decades of dominance. His arrival coincided with a period of fragmentation in Madrid politics, with new parties reshaping the local balance of power.

In 2019, after municipal elections and coalition negotiations, Martínez-Almeida became Mayor of Madrid. His election marked the return of the PP to City Hall and was made possible by the support of Ciudadanos and Vox. He has remained in office since then, leading Madrid through the final stages of the post-crisis local political cycle and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2022, he has also served as National Spokesperson of the PP, giving him a higher-profile role within the party beyond municipal administration. This has reinforced his standing as one of the most visible PP figures, especially on national political issues, even while he remains focused on Madrid.

Relationship with the public

Martínez-Almeida is generally regarded as one of the PP’s more approachable and media-effective figures. His public style is less confrontational than some of his party colleagues, and he often uses a direct, ironic, and lightly self-deprecating manner that has helped him connect with urban voters.

As Mayor, his relationship with the electorate has been shaped by three main factors: management, moderation, and visibility. Supporters tend to see him as a competent administrator who prioritises municipal services, public order, and economic activity. His handling of the city during the pandemic, as well as his focus on daily city-management issues, strengthened his image with voters who value stability.

He also maintains a strong media presence, which has helped him become a recognisable national figure. At the same time, critics argue that his communication style can sometimes be more performative than substantive, and that his broader popularity has partly depended on presenting himself as a centrist or pragmatic conservative in contrast with more polarising national figures.

His relationship with civil society is mixed but generally functional. Business groups and sectors linked to investment and tourism have often viewed his administration favourably, especially where it has emphasised economic activity and urban regeneration. More progressive civic organisations, by contrast, have criticised some of his policies on housing, traffic, culture and the environmental direction of the city.

Positions and political profile

Martínez-Almeida is identified with the moderate, institutional wing of the PP, although his policy positions remain firmly conservative in overall orientation. In Madrid city politics, he has projected an image of order, municipal management and fiscal restraint, with a strong emphasis on keeping the city attractive for investment, commerce and tourism.

He has defended policies linked to:

• Public management and administrative efficiency
• Urban safety and cleanliness
• Economic activity and investment
• Tax moderation
• A critical approach to what the PP frames as excessive regulation in city governance

In environmental and mobility debates, his record has been more contested. Supporters argue that his government has tried to balance mobility needs, business interests and urban functioning. Opponents contend that the administration has been less ambitious than it should have been on climate policy and air-quality measures.

Inside the PP, he is often seen as a valuable communicator and one of the party’s most electorally effective municipal leaders. Outside the party, he is frequently perceived as a more polished and less ideological conservative than some national PP figures, which has widened his appeal in Madrid’s centre-ground. Even so, he remains a political figure associated with the PP’s traditional base and with a governing style that prioritises institutional continuity over disruption.

Key moments that define him include his 2019 victory and ascent to City Hall, his management of Madrid during the COVID-19 crisis, and his emergence as a national spokesperson for the PP in 2022. These episodes have established him as both a municipal executive and a broader party figure, with relevance beyond the capital.

Frequently asked questions

Who is José Luis Martínez-Almeida? He is a Spanish politician from the Partido Popular (PP) and has been Mayor of Madrid since 2019.

What party does he belong to? He belongs to the PP, Spain’s main centre-right conservative party.

What is his main political role now? His main role is Mayor of Madrid, and he also serves as the PP’s national spokesperson.

When was José Luis Martínez-Almeida born? He was born in 1975.

How did he become mayor of Madrid? He became mayor after the 2019 municipal elections, following agreements that allowed the PP to lead the city government with support from other right-wing parties.

How is he generally perceived politically? He is usually seen as a moderate, pragmatic conservative with a strong focus on municipal management and a comparatively strong media profile.