A significant altercation occurred at the Conference of Presidents in Barcelona when Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, declined to greet Mónica García, Minister of Health, igniting tensions between the two prominent political figures.

The event, marked by a contentious atmosphere, witnessed Ayuso reportedly turning away from García, leading to the intervention of protocol staff to separate the two leaders.

The confrontation unfolded in the minutes leading up to the commencement of the conference.

According to sources close to García, she approached Ayuso for a customary greeting, a gesture they described as following institutional etiquette.

However, Ayuso rebuffed the attempt, asserting that García sought to greet her with two kisses, an action she avoided by offering a handshake instead.

The backdrop to this face-off centers on the renewed public debate over the management of care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resurfaced following the reopening of judicial proceedings against the Community of Madrid by two courts.

This legal scrutiny has placed pressure on Ayuso's administration, fuelling the hostility between the two leaders.

Sources from García’s team reported that, when she extended her hand for a greeting, Ayuso allegedly rotated her face away while expressing, "Do you still want to greet a murderer?" In response, García reportedly expressed confusion, asking, "Excuse me?" to which Ayuso reiterated the accusation, implying that García had previously referred to her as a 'murderer' concerning her pandemic management.

Onlookers noted that Ayuso appeared "nervous, anxious, and aggressive" during the exchange according to individuals close to García. In contrast, the Health Ministry has categorically denied the accusation that García labeled Ayuso as a murderer, with García later using social media to state, "That's a lie, and such falsehoods cannot be perpetuated." She emphasized that her approach was one of institutional courtesy, calling Ayuso's reaction "disproportionate and revealing."

The tense exchange concluded with protocol personnel intervening to separate the two leaders.

Supporters of García have characterized Ayuso's actions as indicative of the stress stemming from recent judicial news associated with her administration's handling of the pandemic and the subsequent deaths in senior care facilities.

Conversely, the Community of Madrid's government has presented an alternate narrative, asserting that Ayuso was greeting other government members according to protocol when García approached with the intention of two kisses.

They contend that Ayuso reminded García of remarks made by Más Madrid during a plenary session regarding the government’s COVID-19 management, referencing, "Do you still intend to kiss a murderer after what was said yesterday?"