Alberto González Amador, partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, tried to deduct expenses related to a vacation in Croatia and Greece in August 2021 that he shared with the President of the Community of Madrid from his tax obligations. This information is part of the documentation from the tax authorities that is part of the judicial investigation into González Amador for alleged tax crimes and document forgery. According to documents on the website of the Community of Madrid, the President booked the VIP lounge at Barajas airport for the private trip using public funds. The Madrid government has stated that Díaz Ayuso pays for all her personal expenses and trips out of her own pocket, unlike Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister.
González Amador also tried to deduct the cost of renting two vehicles in Zagreb and Crete in August 2021 under his company’s name, Maxwell Cremona. During an 11-day vacation with Díaz Ayuso, the businessman billed the rental expenses to his company, lowering his tax bill. The invoices show that a car was rented for 1,036.61 euros in Zagreb from August 16 to 22, 2021, and another in Crete from August 24 to 27 of the same year. These expenses were included in the documents obtained by the tax authorities during their investigation into possible tax fraud committed by González Amador over a period of two years, in which he declared inflated expenses to avoid paying taxes.
Additionally, records show that Díaz Ayuso used the VIP lounge at Barajas airport for flights from Madrid to Zagreb and Athens to Madrid on August 16 and 27, 2021. This coincided with the dates when González Amador picked up and dropped off the rental cars, suggesting that the expenses were related to their private vacation. The cost of booking the VIP lounge was 290.40 euros, which was funded by taxpayers. The government of the Community of Madrid has reiterated that Díaz Ayuso covers all her personal expenses, including travel costs, and does not use public funds for these purposes.
The Madrid government has pointed out that Díaz Ayuso pays for all her personal expenses and travel costs herself, unlike other politicians who use public funds for such expenses. The government has criticized the publication of private data related to the couple’s expenses, highlighting that the disclosure of such information is punishable by law. The Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, had previously criticized González Amador’s attempts to deduct private expenses and called for Ayuso’s resignation, hinting at potentially scandalous revelations in the future. The Madrid government has emphasized that revealing private information is a criminal offense and can result in imprisonment and disqualification from public office.
The controversy surrounding González Amador’s alleged tax evasion and personal expenses, including those incurred during the private vacation with Díaz Ayuso, has raised questions about transparency and accountability in public office. The government’s insistence that the President covers all her personal expenses contrasts with the accusations of tax fraud and misuse of public funds. The ongoing investigation into these matters will likely shed further light on the financial practices of public officials and their associates. The impact of these revelations on public trust in the government remains to be seen, as the case continues to unfold in the judicial system.
