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Irene Montero

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Irene Montero
MEP
Member of the European Parliament
for Spain
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 July 2024
Minister of Equality
In office
13 January 2020 – 21 November 2023
Prime MinisterPedro Sánchez
Preceded byCarmen Calvo
(Presidency, Relations with the Cortes and Equality)
Succeeded byAna Redondo García
Member of the Congress of Deputies
In office
13 January 2016 – 17 August 2023
ConstituencyMadrid
Personal details
BornIrene María Montero Gil
(1988-02-13) 13 February 1988 (age 38)
Madrid, Spain
PartyPodemos (2014–present)
Other political
affiliations
Communist Youth Union of Spain (2004–2011)
Domestic partner
Pablo Iglesias Turrión (2016–present)
Children3
EducationAutonomous University of Madrid
Signature

Irene María Montero Gil (Spanish pronunciation: [iˈɾene monˈteɾo]; born 13 February 1988) is a Spanish politician, member of the Podemos party. She most recently served as the Minister of Equality of Spain from 13 January 2020 to 20 November 2023.

From January 2016 to August 2023, Montero was an MP for Madrid in the Congress of Deputies, and from February 2017 to January 2020 she was the Spokesperson for the Parliamentary Group Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-Galicia en Común in Congress. In 2024, Montero was elected as member of the European Parliament.

Early life and education

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Irene María Montero Gil was born in the Moratalaz neighborhood of Madrid.[1] She joined the Communist Youth Union of Spain (UJCE) in 2004.[2] She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), and a master's degree in educational psychology.

She claimed to have received a scholarship for Harvard University, but chose to commit herself to politics instead of moving to the United States.[3] In 2022 the Congress of Deputies requested to be provided a document showing evidence of her Harvard scholarship.[4] It was later reported that due to her high grades, she received a grant to continue her studies at UAM, which came with an opportunity to also experience a training period at Harvard.[5]

Political career

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Early beginnings

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Montero joined Podemos after the elections to the European Parliament in 2014 together with Rafa Mayoral from the Platform of People Affected by Mortgages (PAH).[6]

In November 2014, after being a candidate for the Citizen Council of Podemos, Montero was appointed head of Social Movements and began to lead the cabinet of the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, at which time she postponed her doctoral thesis project on new methods of educational inclusion to dedicate herself entirely to Podemos.[citation needed]

Member of Parliament (2016–2023)

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Montero was a candidate for Madrid to the Congress of Deputies for Podemos in the elections of 20 December 2015, being elected deputy of the XI and the XII Legislature. Since 18 February 2017 she has held the position of Spokesperson[7] of the United Confederal Group We Can-In Comú Podem-En Marea, being the youngest speaker of democracy.[8]

During the election campaign of 20 December 2015 Iglesias announced that Montero would be the vice president and minister of the Presidency of a hypothetical government of Podemos.

In the elections of the Congress of Vistalegre II to the direction of Podemos was elected as a member of the State Citizen Council.[9] She was the most voted woman, placing herself in fourth place, behind Pablo Iglesias, Pablo Echenique and Íñigo Errejón.[10] She is currently a member of the Coordination Board of Podemos, secretary of Action in Congress.

As a deputy, in June 2017, Montero became the first woman in the history of Spain to intervene in parliament on a motion of no confidence.[11]

In May 2018, Iglesias and Montero put their positions in Podemos up for a vote of no confidence, following backlash for purchasing a €615,000 country house in Galapagar. A total of 68.42% of party members voted to keep them in their roles.[12]

Minister of Equality (2020–2023)

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In January 2020, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appointed Montero as Minister of Equality. During her time in office, she oversaw the government's efforts on a bill to allow anyone over the age of 14 to change gender legally without a medical diagnosis or hormone therapy.[13] She debated the ramifications of the bill with Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, who opposed it.[14][15]

In May 2022, Montero announced the implementation of the 028 Rainbow Service, an emergency service for victims of queerphobic hate crimes or discrimination.[16]

In August 2022, Spain passed legislation proposed by Montero since the La Manada rape case, in which consent for sexual intercourse had to be proven by affirmation.[17] The change in the law allowed for convicted sex offenders to have their sentences reduced on appeal by the retroactivity of the law. Montero declared that the right-wing opposition used the retroactivity as a loophole to attack her, and she blamed the reductions on "machismo" of judges; in response to this, she was dubbed a "liberator of rapists" by Vox congress member Carla Toscano, who criticised the minister's portrayal of judges.[18]

By 1 December, 43 convicted sex offenders had their sentences reduced by up to seven years as a result of the new law.[19] On 14 December, the Supreme Court of Spain upheld the reductions, as accused in Spain who are not at the end of the appeals process have the right to be re-sentenced under a later, more beneficial law.[20] The law was amended in April 2023 by the PSOE and opposition PP, which Montero considered "a sad day" and the most difficult of her tenure as a minister.[21] In September 2023, the court of Navarra reduced the sentence of one of the members of "la Manada" from 15 years to 14 years by applying the "solo sí es sí" law.[22]

In October 2023, during the Gaza war, Montero said that Israel's alleged violation of international criminal law and war crimes must face consequences.[23] In May 2024, she accused the European Union of "complicity" in the Gaza genocide.[24]

Member of the European Parliament (2024–present)

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Irene Montero in July 2024

Montero ran for Member of the European Parliament in the European elections held in June 2024, as head of list for Podemos. Following her election she was appointed Vice-president of The Left in the European Parliament. In July 2024 the Left group presented her as a candidate for the Presidency of the European Parliament.[25]

Political positions

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European Parliament protest against Donald Trump (June 2026)

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On 16 June 2026, during a European Parliament debate on the role of the EU in the Middle East following the announced agreement between the United States and Iran, Montero criticised the EU's response and addressed the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. Questioning what Europe had to celebrate, and referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's 80th birthday on 14 June, she sang a modified version of "Happy Birthday" that ended with the line "Happy birthday, Mr Genocide".[26][27][28] In her remarks she asked whether Europe could celebrate having prevented a genocide or having stopped what she described as an "illegal aggression" by the United States and Israel against Iran, and whether it had broken relations with Israel or stopped the occupation of Lebanon.[26][28] She later shared a video of the moment on X.[26]

2026 migration comments

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In early 2026, Montero used language in a speech on migration at a campaign event in Zaragoza that radio presenter Carlos Herrera said echoed a "great replacement" conspiracy theory.[29] She rejected this interpretation, stating that her comments were actually meant to denounce racism, but had been misrepresented.[30] Following an accusation by Elon Musk that she was "advocating genocide", Montero responded on X that "decent people, must replace you, so that you stop raping, bombing, kidnapping children, and killing".[31][32]

Foreign policy

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In an April 2026 interview on RTVE, Montero characterised the United States and Israel as the two greatest threats to humanity, and advocated that Spain leave NATO and break diplomatic relations with Israel.[33] In June 2025, amid debate over increased military spending, she accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of dishonesty, saying he was staging "his own Azores photo".[34]

In May 2025 she referred on X to Israel as 'a terrorist state ruled by the Hitler of our century, doing to the Palestinians the same things that the Nazis did to the Jews'.[35]

Personal life

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Brought up by a practising Catholic family, Montero self-identifies as atheist.[36] She and Pablo Iglesias have three children: twins Leo and Manuel (born 3 July 2018) and Aitana (born 4 August 2019).[37][38] The twins were born premature and kept in intensive care at a public hospital in Madrid.[37]

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On June 6, 2023, in a civil case, the Supreme Court ruled that Montero had falsely accused a man of abuse without evidence. The court ordered Montero to pay €18,000 in compensation to the plaintiff, delete a tweet in which she shared a video of the opening ceremony of the Women's Institute where she made the statements for which she was convicted, and post the judgment on X.[39][40] She was given 3 months to fulfil the judgment. The court imposed her an additional €5,400 fine since Montero had not complied with the order within the 3 months.[41] In September, Montero appealed to a higher court because the judgment would erode her credibility and violate her free speech. The Constitutional Court of Spain rejected her appeal, ruling that her free speech did not protect her and that the appeal was out of time.[41] In November 2023, Montero complied with the ruling.[42][43]

References

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  1. ↑ "Home | Irene MONTERO | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 13 February 1988. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Velasco, Lourdes (9 January 2020). "Irene Montero: una 'portavoza' para pilotar la Igualdad desde el feminismo" (in Spanish). EFE. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  3. ↑ Casanova, J. (10 January 2020). "Irene Montero, la activista que cambió Harvard por Podemos". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Pablo Cambronero Piqueras. "Documento de la invitación de a beca a la Ministra Montero por la Universidad de Harvard" (PDF) (in Spanish). Congress of Deputies (Spain). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Arias, Clara (7 April 2025). "Este es el currículum completo de Irene Montero: de cajera a eurodiputada". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Podemos nombra a Irene Montero nueva portavoz en el Congreso, en sustitución de Errejón". Europa Press (in Spanish). Madrid. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Fallarás, Cristina (11 March 2017). "Anatomía de foto con mujer que no aplaude". Revista Contexto (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Villar, Cote (14 May 2018). "Irene Montero, en la cresta de la ola política". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial Información General, S.L.U. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Gil, Iván (12 February 2017). "Pablo Iglesias derrota a Íñigo Errejón por una mayoría aplastante en Vistalegre II". El Confidencial (in Spanish). Titania Compañía Editorial, S.L. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Estos son los resultados de Vistalegre II". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Irene Montero, la primera mujer en la historia de España que parlamenta en una moción de censura". Público (in Spanish). Display Connectors, S.L. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  12. ↑ Marcos, José (28 May 2018). "Podemos leaders win confidence vote over country house scandal". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  13. ↑ Belén Carreño and Nathan Allen (29 June 2021), Spain moves step closer to gender self-identification Reuters.
  14. ↑ "Montero responde a Calvo: "La identidad de género no es un capricho"". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Irene Montero admite diferencias con Carmen Calvo por la Ley Trans". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "El 028, el teléfono para las víctimas de LGTBIfobia, empezará a operar en verano". ElHuffPost (in Spanish). 17 May 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  17. ↑ Burgen, Stephen (25 August 2022). "Spain passes 'only yes means yes' sexual consent law". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  18. ↑ Jones, Sam (24 November 2022). "Spanish right launch sexist attacks on equality minister over consent law". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  19. ↑ Marraco, Manuel (1 December 2022). "43 violadores se han beneficiado ya de la ley del 'sólo sí es sí'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  20. ↑ Pérez Medina, Alfonso (14 December 2022). "El Supremo considera "obligatorio" aplicar la ley del 'solo sí es sí' en el 'caso Arandina' por ser "más favorable" al reo" (in Spanish). La Sexta. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Los socialistas españoles corrigen una ley estrella contra delitos sexuales que salió mal". Swissinfo (in Spanish). 20 April 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "El TSJN rebaja en un año la pena a uno de los condenados de 'La Manada' en aplicación de la ley del 'solo sí es sí'". RTVE.es (in Spanish). 12 September 2023.
  23. ↑ Keeley, Graham. "Spanish politicians who expressed sympathy for Palestine enrage Israel". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Spain's Podemos warns about 'hypocrisy' of 'European Commission of war'". Euractiv. 27 May 2024.
  25. ↑ Heller, Fernando (18 December 2023). "Controversial left-wing minister to head Podemos' EU elections list". Euractiv. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 "Spanish MEP Irene Montero slams EU for inaction, takes 'Happy Birthday, Mr Genocide' jab at Trump". WION. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  27. ↑ ""Happy birthday, Mr Genocide": la protesta de Irene Montero contra Trump y la UE en la Eurocámara". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  28. 1 2 "Parlamento europeo, Irene Montero: "Happy birthday to Trump, happy birthday Mr. Genocide"". Adnkronos (in Italian). 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Carlos Herrera escucha lo que Irene Montero dice sobre la regularización de inmigrantes y es contundente: «Habla de reemplazo de generaciones de españoles»". ABC (in Spanish). 2 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Palazón, Álvaro (2 February 2026). "Elon Musk habla así de Irene Montero y ella responde de la forma más contundente posible". HuffPost España (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  31. ↑ "Irene Montero responds to Elon Musk after he accused her of 'advocating genocide': 'Decent people should replace you'". El País. 2 February 2026.
  32. ↑ El Rugido del León (2 February 2026). "Irene Montero le hace el juego a Sánchez alentando la teoría del gran reemplazo". Opinión (Editorial). El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Irene Montero: "Hay que recuperar el orgullo de ser de izquierdas"". Las mañanas de RNE (in Spanish). RTVE. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  34. ↑ "Irene Montero acusa a Sánchez de "mentiroso"" (in Spanish). RTVE. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Cabanillas, Ana (16 May 2025). "Israel carga contra Irene Montero por el "acoso" a su representante en Eurovisión y le compara con Hitler". El Periódico (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  36. ↑ Vélez, Raquel (3 August 2026). "Irene Montero: "Nunca he creído en Dios, pero he sido hasta monaguilla"". Cadena SER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  37. 1 2 Europa Press (3 July 2018). "Irene Montero da a luz a sus mellizos de manera prematura, con seis meses de gestación". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  38. ↑ "Irene Montero da a luz a su tercer hijo, una niña que se llama Aitana". El País (in Spanish). 4 August 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  39. ↑ MARTIALAY, ÁNGELA (9 June 2023). "El Supremo condena a Irene Montero a pagar 18.000 euros al ex marido de María Sevilla por presentarle sin pruebas como un maltratador". ELMUNDO (in Spanish).
  40. ↑ Pozas, Alberto (9 June 2023). "El Supremo condena a Irene Montero a indemnizar con 18.000 euros a un hombre al que acusó en falso de ser un maltratador". ElDiario.es (in Spanish).
  41. 1 2 "El Supremo obliga a Irene Montero a pagar 5.400 €, en costas e intereses, a sumar a los 18.000 € de la multa del exmarido de María Sevilla". Confilegal (in European Spanish). 4 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
  42. ↑ @IreneMontero (10 November 2023). "En cumplimiento de la sentencia del TS, Sala de lo Civil, nº 910/2023, de 08/06/2023, publico su encabezamiento y fallo, y elimino este tweet publicado el 25 de mayo de 2022" (Tweet) (in Spanish) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  43. ↑ Redacción Confilegal (12 November 2023). "Irene Montero cumple la sentencia del Supremo y borra el tuit en el calificó de maltratador al exmarido de María Sevilla". Confilegal (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2026.
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