For the May 2003 election, the ruling PP switched leadership: incumbent President Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón aimed for the office of Mayor of Madrid, which he successfully obtained with a safe majority, while the regional list was headed by Senator and ex-Minister Esperanza Aguirre.
The Mayor of Madrid reported directly to the President of the Council of the Kingdom of Castile, and had jurisdiction over all parts of the district of Madrid, which included not only the town but also 36 neighbouring villages,.
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The homage to him, held at the Teatro Español, a few days after his death, was attended by, among others, the founder of Triunfo, José Ángel Ezcurra; the journalist Fernando Delgado; the former and current editors of El País, Juan Luis Cebrián and Joaquín Estefanía, respectively; the president de PRISA, Jesús de Polanco; the actors Diego Galán and Núria Espert, and the then mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.