How Irene Montero became a polarizing force in Spanish and European politics

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From her early days in the Communist Youth Union to her tenure as Spain's Minister of Equality, Irene Montero has consistently courted controversy. Whether debating landmark gender legislation or clashing with international figures, her career is defined by high-stakes political battles and a refusal to shy away from ideological confrontation.

Born in 1988 in Madrid, Irene Montero rose to prominence within the Podemos party, which she joined in 2014. Her political ascent was rapid; by 2017, she became the youngest spokesperson in the history of the Spanish Congress of Deputies. In 2020, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appointed her Minister of Equality, a role that placed her at the center of Spain's most contentious social debates. During her tenure, she championed a law requiring explicit affirmation for sexual consent, a policy that faced intense scrutiny when it inadvertently allowed for sentence reductions for convicted sex offenders.

Montero's career is marked by significant legal and political friction. In 2023, the Supreme Court of Spain ordered her to pay €18,000 in compensation after ruling she had falsely accused a man of abuse without evidence. She faced further fines for delays in complying with the court's order. Despite these challenges, she maintained her political base, eventually moving to the European Parliament in 2024. As Vice-president of The Left, she has continued to utilize provocative rhetoric, including a 2026 incident where she sang a modified version of 'Happy Birthday' directed at U.S. President Donald Trump, labeling him a figure of genocide.

Her ideological stance remains uncompromising. She has publicly advocated for Spain to exit NATO and has frequently criticized the European Union's foreign policy regarding the Middle East. Her rhetoric often draws sharp rebukes from both domestic opposition and international figures, such as Elon Musk. Whether through her legislative efforts on gender identity or her vocal opposition to the United States and Israel, Montero remains a figure who defines herself through direct conflict with established power structures, viewing her actions as necessary challenges to systemic injustice.

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