low emission zone Madrid Central. As promised, on July 1, the City Council led by Martínez-Almeida suspended the system for three months by ceasing to fine infractions. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace cut roads in protest. However, a week later a court in Madrid restored the fines. After more than one year of legal dispute, in July 2020, the derogation of the measure was supported by a judicial sentence, but the municipal government maintained the fines. During the COVID-19 sanitary crisis Martínez-Almeida garnered the support of all parties in the City Council. His performance gained him notoriety and recognition. After the first confinement, the City Council of Madrid was the first major administration to reach a transversal reconstruction plan. In September 2021, Almeida's government banned the in-person participation of neighbors in the plenary meetings of the district councils. He tested positive for COVID-19 on 21 December 2021 during the pandemic in Spain. In April 2022, it came to light that his government was involved in a scandal for awarding several contracts to companies managed by aristocrat Luis Medina Abascal, son of Nati Abascal and the Duke of Feria; and his partner, Alberto Javier Luceño Cerón, two businessmen who mediated in the purchase of sanitary material with the Madrid City Council in March 2020, during the worst moment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and a few days after the state of alarm was declared, with whom them both took millionaire commissions for various contracts, being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. References Mayors of Madrid Madrid city councillors (2015–2019) Madrid city councillors (2019–2023) Living people 1975 births Members of the State Lawyers Corps COVID-19 pandemic in Spain