This Is the Luxurious Mansion to Which Sira Rego Has Taken Her Ministry

There is still no plaque outside indicating that the majestic Palacete del Conde de la Eliseda is the headquarters of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood.

A department created by Pedro Sánchez in November 2023 to appoint the former MEP of Sumar, Sira Rego, as minister. With hardly any attributions, this portfolio was previously a general directorate within another administration.

After more than a year in office, the minister has maintained a very limited public agenda. Her absence was notable during the first weeks of the DANA, despite many children and teenagers suffering its consequences.

So far, the most relevant decision of her management has been to move the headquarters of her ministry, distancing from the reality in which many young people live.

The few appearances of Sira Rego have focused on protocol meetings without concrete measures benefiting the youth.

The lack of communication and legislative proposals have caused growing discontent among youth organizations, which see the ministry as having no real impact.

An Unnecessary Move

Initially, Rego's office was in the ministerial building of Social Services on Paseo del Prado, next to the Congress and Atocha.

This building already housed other ministers of Sumar, such as Mónica García and Pablo Bustinduy, facilitating coordination between departments with cross-cutting projects.

However, just over a month ago, the minister decided to move the headquarters to a mansion on Marqués de Riscal street.

The new location is in front of the luxurious Villa Magna hotel and very close to Madrid's golden mile, surrounded by exclusive financial entities and high-end shops.

The property, which previously housed the Youth Institute, now serves as the ministerial headquarters without having undergone major renovations.

However, the cost of the move has caused controversy, as resources have been allocated to a relocation instead of initiatives to improve the situation of Spanish youth.

In the press room, the only visible sign of the ministry is a provisional roll-up with its logo.

A Ministry Without Legislative Production

The change of headquarters is surprising due to the ministry's scarce legislative activity. Since its creation, Sira Rego's team hasn't approved any relevant regulations.

In 2023, they announced the drafting of a new Youth Law, but so far no concrete progress has been presented.

Despite repeated demands from the youth sector, the ministry hasn't promoted effective measures in key areas such as employment, housing, or education.

The absence of legislative projects makes the very existence of this ministry questionable. Especially when its annual budget could have been allocated to programs with a direct impact on youth.

Despite having its own ministry, youth policy remains a non-priority for Sánchez's Government.

The lack of concrete initiatives and the decision to move the headquarters to an exclusive enclave reinforce the perception that the ministry is a decorative body with no real impact.

Criticism has also come from within the Executive itself. Government sources have expressed their discontent with the lack of results in Rego's management.

The feeling is that the ministry was created with a more political than functional purpose, and that its work is more testimonial than effective.

The future of this ministerial portfolio is uncertain. If legislative inactivity persists and policies in favor of youth aren't realized, the possibility of absorption by another ministry could be an option.

Meanwhile, the luxurious mansion on Marqués de Riscal continues to function as the new headquarters of a ministry that, so far, hasn't shown itself to be necessary.