Clash Between Jordi Évole and Díaz Ayuso's Chief of Staff: "I Find It Shameful"

Fernando Simón, the face of the Ministry of Health during the pandemic of coronavirus, gave an interview to Jordi Évole where, five years later, he reviewed what happened during this period that began in 2020. The then director of the Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health (CCAES) evaluated his work as a spokesperson and revealed, among other things, that he received offers to enter politics after the health emergency. "I was tempted, there have been insinuations, but no solid requests," he said.

In the programme 'Lo de Évole', several families of the 7,291 deceased in the residences of the Community of Madrid due to the so-called "protocols of shame" implemented by the Government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso were given a voice. These protocols prevented the elderly from being transferred to hospital centres, and many of them died suffocated and abandoned. "I find it difficult to understand, but it is the prerogative of the Community of Madrid, and I understand that responsibility must be demanded from those who made the decision," said Fernando Simón about it.

During the broadcast of the programme, an exchange of messages began between the presenter and journalist, Jordi Évole, and the Chief of Staff of the President of the Community of Madrid, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, regarding the testimonies of four relatives of people who died during the pandemic in Madrid residences. Évole shared a video on X with the message: "Testimonies of something that should not be forgotten," to which Miguel Ángel Rodríguez responded that "if these testimonies give us their name, we will check if it is true and how many times a year they visited their relatives. Lest it be a lie." Jordi Évole responded with the same expression that Díaz Ayuso's Chief of Staff has repeated whenever he has insinuated that any of those involved in the investigation for the alleged leak of personal data of the Madrid President's boyfriend, Alberto González Amador, would end up as an investigated party in the case: "Go ahead. Pending #LoDeAyuso," the host of the show replied to Rodríguez, reminding him that he has repeatedly requested, unsuccessfully, to interview Ayuso.

But the clash between the two went further, as half an hour later, Rodríguez returned with a new tweet: "Well: I have already verified that the first lady appearing in #lodesimon did not have her mother in any residence of the Community of Madrid. Let's see the rest." To this accusation, Évole responded forcefully: "I find it shameful to be responding to this tweet at this hour. Hopefully one day you will receive in your office the person you have just slandered. What you are doing is unbecoming of someone in your position. You lie, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez."

The Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, echoing information published on BlueSky that debunks Miguel Ángel Rodríguez's claim, responded with "what a pile of rubbish you are, Miguel Ángel." The refutation to Miguel Ángel Rodríguez's comment, published by Manuel Rico on BlueSky, indicates that the mother of the first woman seen in the video of Lo de Évole, whom Rodríguez accuses of lying, died in a residence in Getafe in April 2020. "This individual lies. I spare adjectives, but there are plenty," adds Rico after the clarification.