The communication strategy that has elevated Isabel Díaz Ayuso includes the use of slips, inconsistencies or simple anecdotes from the Madrid president to make them go viral on social networks and increase her popularity. One of them expands the belief that Díaz Ayuso was behind the Twitter account of Pecas, Esperanza Aguirre’s friendly dog. Neither she nor her advisers have considered it convenient for it to be revealed that she was also responsible for accounts that tried to ridicule the political rivals of the PP, according to unpublished messages exchanged with the achiever of the Punic corruption plot, Alejandro de Pedro, whom she has had access elDiario.es.
New clash between the Government and Ayuso in the inauguration of the Executive delegate in Madrid
Further
De Pedro was a kind of computer guru who combined his network skills with the facet of an achiever, according to the accusations against him in the Púnica case. Among his most active clients was the Popular Party of Madrid, in which Isabel Díaz Ayuso was responsible for the digital strategy at the beginning of the last decade. De Pedro received public funds to improve the reputation of members of the Esperanza Aguirre government, including the then president.
Díaz Ayuso’s relationship with De Pedro, unlike what has happened to other party and regional government officials, will not seat the current president on the bench. It happens despite the fact that the relationship of the current Madrid president with the businessman was closer than that of other defendants. elDiario.es revealed in September 2019 that Ayuso asked De Pedro to bury a story about the corruption of former Madrid president Ignacio González in the search engines. Also that by order of this he tried to buy the domains that Podemos could use to run for the elections in Madrid.
attack rivals
In March 2011 there are two months left for the regional elections in which Díaz Ayuso will become a regional deputy for the first time. She, then, is under the orders of Lucía Figar, head of communication for the Madrid PP. Díaz Ayuso turns to the businessman accused of belonging to a criminal organization to help him in the dirty war that he has launched on the Internet. He’s not Freckles giving off witty remarks. It is about humiliating the socialist candidate, Tomás Gómez, and attacking the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
On March 21, 2011, De Pedro and Ayuso – which the former has saved on his mobile as Web PP Madrid – talk about a new tool that is increasing visits to Esperanza Aguirre’s Facebook page. Ayuso conveys his fear that he will copy the “Tommy” idea. De Pedro asks who this “Tommy” is. And Ayuso answers: “Tommy Gómez. Or drink it for friends. Or #withyoubug. Those things. You already have an official twitter. www.twitter.com/tomasodiparla”.
The Twitter profile @tomasodiparla began its activity that same March of 2011, when there were barely two months left before the elections, and it was active until September of the following year. In that period, it collected just over two hundred tweets. It is a kind of parody account in which alleged messages from the candidate in a mocking tone are interspersed with open criticism of his management as head of the Parla City Council, first, and as opposition leader, later. On several occasions, the profile refers to the socialist leader with the hashtag #contigoNObicho.
There are numerous praises to the Popular Party and its leaders. Especially, Esperanza Aguirre. But also others like Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón or Mariano Rajoy. “I left Parla stiffer than the mojama. Now, let’s go for Madrid!!”, collects one of the first messages, from March 26, 2011. In the following days he focuses on criticizing some of Gómez’s electoral proposals, such as the creation of a network of ten public regional hostels . “Cool. I propose 10 public hostels. Because I know where your needs are. #dinerocomochicle”, can be read in another tweet.
I left Parla stiffer than the mojama. Now, to Madrid!! http://bit.ly/hT59vd
— Tomaso di Parla (@tomasodiparla) March 26, 2011
The southern city of Madrid that Gómez governed for almost a decade was also the subject of caricature with messages such as “I’ve messed it up,” or “What do people prefer in #Alcorcón? The model of buildings in Parla or Fuenlabrada, or those of Majadahonda and Boadilla? The latter are two of the municipalities with the highest income in the community. The mockery that the cities of the south aroused towards Díaz Ayuso is also reflected in the messages published by elDiario.es: “How do you say macarra in Italian? Di Parla (…) And in Greek? show them”.
The account was especially active during the electoral debate between candidates, which was held on May 8, 2011. That night it published a dozen messages. “Tomás Gómez drools with Izquierda Unida. How scary ”or“ Tomaso already wants to place his friends in the public bank ”, were some of them.
Tomás Gómez drools with Izquierda Unida. Spooky. #debatemadrid
— Tomaso di Parla (@tomasodiparla) May 8, 2011
In the days that followed, he also referred to the encampment that 15-M raised in Puerta del Sol. For example, disseminating another user’s message: “Someone tell the perroflautas that the chimes are in December.” And, after the elections, he focused on ridiculing Gómez’s role as leader of the opposition. “I HAVE TO FEED MOLTO DEPUTATI DEL PSOE AND EVERY TIME I HAVE LESS BECAUSE NOBODY DOES NOT VOTE FOR US ANYMORE!! ABOVE, DO NOT LOWER THE NUMER”, he wrote on June 7 regarding Aguirre’s proposal to reduce the regional seats. “THEY HAVE NO CREDIBILITY BUT ME LESS! I HAD LESS VOTE THAN ANYONE!! HAHAHAHA I’m pathetic ”, picks up another message.
THEY HAVE NO CREDIBILITY BUT ME LESS! I HAD LESS VOTE THAN ANYONE!! HAHAHAHA I’m pathetic http://t.co/fpEBwY4a @PSOE @psmadrid
— Tomaso di Parla (@tomasodiparla) June 26, 2012
In the summer of 2011, the profile also reacted to criticism of the celebration of World Youth Day in Madrid and the visit of the Pope to Madrid. “Raw people who look favorably on spending money on unions but not on citizens of a majority religion,” tweets @tomasodiparla with the hashtag #madridsinpapa that the sectors that were opposed to that visit were using. And, with the school year started, he did not hesitate to charge against the teachers who mobilized in defense of public education. “Trade unionist: uncle we all pay with our taxes and when you ask him for an effort he goes on strike. #mareaverde @esperanzaguirre”, collects a message from October 2011.
In the WhatsApp conversation with Alejandro de Pedro, the defendant in three Púnica cases praises Díaz Ayuso’s ingenuity: “PP Madrid does work. So she cheers up and confesses that she also has another account, @contigozp. “That one goes better, but it takes more.” The user is no longer active on Twitter, but his traces can be followed on the president’s official profile, which still maintains several messages from that account that he published in the months of March and April 2011. In one of them, a parody of the logo of the socialists appears in which, instead of a rose, there is a prohibited sign with the message “New logo of the PSOE”.
–––––––––––––
Research has a price…
elDiario.es is financed by the contributions of 60,000 members who support us. Thanks to them, we can write articles like this one and that all readers – including those who cannot pay – have access to our information. But we ask you to think for a moment about our situation. Unlike other media, we do not shut down our journalism. And that makes it much more difficult for us than for other media to convince readers of the need to pay.
If you get information from elDiario.es and you believe that our journalism is important, and that it is worthwhile for it to exist and reach as many people as possible, support us. Because our work is necessary, and because elDiario.es needs it. Become a member, become a member, of elDiario.es.