Controversy in Mairena del Alcor: PSOE talks of 'luck' in the face of a misogynistic crime

Socialist spokesperson Pedro Madroñal described the murder of a woman in Mairena del Aljarafe as "luck", although he later corrected his words. The crime, the first case of gender violence in Seville in 2026, has triggered a wave of indignation.

The PSOE spokesperson in Mairena del Alcor, Pedro Madroñal, has generated significant controversy after referring to the misogynistic murder that occurred on June 27 in Mairena del Aljarafe with the phrase "she was from Aljarafe, luckily". During the ordinary council meeting on June 30, Madroñal attempted to assess the crime, but his words were deemed unfortunate given the seriousness of the issue.

“I recently remember hearing news about a woman murdered in Mairena, she was from Aljarafe, luckily…,” said the councillor, immediately rectifying: “let’s say luckily, it’s not that…”. He then clarified that “we thought she was from our municipality” and expressed his hope that “we hope this case never occurs”. His remarks have been harshly criticized by feminist associations and local residents, who believe they minimise the tragedy.

A crime that shocks Aljarafe

The victim, Ana, a Colombian national, was stabbed to death by her partner in her home on San Isidro Labrador Street, in the Los Alcores neighbourhood of Mairena del Aljarafe. She is the first victim of misogynistic violence in the province of Seville in 2026 and the sixth in Andalusia. According to the Government's subdelegate in Seville, Francisco Toscano, there were no prior reports nor was she registered in the Viogén system. The attacker, who self-harmed after the assault, was taken to a hospital in the capital.

The news has hit the residents of Aljarafe hard, a region where gender violence remains a silenced reality. “It’s terrible that such a word was used. There is no 'luck' in a murder,” declared a spokesperson for the Diverse Women of the Earth association, which participated in the protest.

Social response: over a thousand people mobilise

On Tuesday afternoon, more than a thousand people, mostly women, marched through the streets of Mairena del Aljarafe to condemn the murder and demand measures against misogynistic violence. The demonstration, called by groups such as the Ana Bella Foundation, the Federation of Gypsy Women’s Associations (Fakali), and the Aljarafe Women’s Collective, among others, expressed social rejection of violence and comments like those made by Madroñal.

For local residents, safety and prevention are priorities. “The absence of prior reports doesn’t mean there were no signs. We need more resources to detect these cases in time,” noted a participant in the march. The Mairena del Aljarafe City Council has announced it will strengthen awareness programmes in educational centres and collaborate with the Andalusian Institute of Women to improve support for victims.

Pedro Madroñal, for his part, has publicly apologised through a statement: “I recognise that my words were not appropriate. I never intended to downplay such a horrific crime. I am committed to the fight against gender violence.” However, the opposition in Mairena del Alcor has called for his resignation as spokesperson, arguing that “one cannot trivialise these tragedies”.

The case remains under judicial investigation, while the Colombian community in the area has expressed its grief and demanded justice. The couple had no criminal record, and Ana’s acquaintances remember her as a hardworking and cheerful woman. “We cannot allow even one more to be murdered. And even less to make jokes about it,” concluded a spokesperson for Stop Institutional Violence.