Madrid, ‘The New Miami’: Mexican Oligarchy and Politicians Turn Spain into a Favorite Destination

ByArmando G. Tejeda

This article by Armando G. Tejeda originally appeared in the September 6, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left-wing daily newspaper.

Madrid is already known as “the new Miami,” being the center of operations and gathering point of the Latin American oligarchy. The luxurious Salamanca district is called “the new Polanco,” because of its massive presence of high-purchasing-power Mexicans.

The rent for an average apartment in those areas, with two or three bedrooms, is usually between 2,500 and 4,000 euros (50,000 to 85,000 pesos), and for sale they exceed one million euros (21 million pesos), even reaching 7 million euros (150 million pesos).

In Madrid, former Mexican presidents Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Enrique Peña Nieto and Carlos Salinas de Gortari enjoy a golden retirement.

While the PAN member Calderón teaches at private universities and meets with foundations and research centers linked to the right and the far right, Peña Nieto and Salinas de Gortari keep a more discreet profile.

Peña Nieto was seen in late August in a tuxedo and wearing a kippah (Jewish ritual head covering) at the wedding of the Israeli singer Omer Adam, in a private castle in Portofino, Italy, alongside the businessman Avishai Neriah, one of the promoters of the introduction of the Pegasus spyware in Mexico.

Salinas de Gortari is part of the International Council of the Teatro Real and rubs shoulders with some of the city's largest fortunes, among them the Asturian-born businessman Juan Antonio Pérez Simón, who founded his empire in Mexico, alongside Carlos Slim, in Grupo Carso and Seguros Inbursa.

Gordillo was photographed at Barajas airport on August 11, smiling as she posed for a follower, and later walking while another person carried her suitcase. She was then seen at the Wellington hotel—where a room runs about 350 euros (7,500 pesos) per night and the suite exceeds 1,000 euros (21,000 pesos), while a tasting-menu meal costs between 120 and 250 euros (2,500 and 5,000 pesos)—as well as in the shops of Serrano street, called “the Golden Mile.”

Ricardo Monreal, a Morena senator, was caught in Madrid in July 2025 while having breakfast at the luxurious Villa Magna hotel, before setting off on the Camino de Santiago to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary. His defense was that he paid for the trip with his own money and not at the public purse's expense.

In August, the governor of Campeche, also a Morena member, Layda Sansores, was seen shopping at the famous exclusive store El Corte Inglés on Serrano street in Madrid, and at the luxury footwear store Gianvito Rossi, where a pair of shoes exceeds 1,000 euros (21,000 pesos).

In Avión, a small Galician town, the Vázquez Raña family has a mansion where every summer some of Mexico's great fortunes gather, such as the businessmen Carlos Slim Helú, Emilio Azcárraga Jean or the Servitje family.

Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares—expelled from the PAN in 2024 for voting in favor of the judicial reform promoted by Morena—was caught at another European destination, the Italian island of Capri, while eating at a luxurious beach club.

Social media also revealed the trip to Porto, Portugal, of Alejandro “Alito” Moreno, leader of the PRI, where he sported a very valuable watch and gold jewelry.