On 21 March 2018 , it transpired that President Cristina Cifuentes could have obtained a master 's degree in the King Juan Carlos University through fraudulent means . What initially started off as mere suspicions that she could have faked her CV , developed into a major scandal after a series of irregularities in the obtaining of the academic title were revealed , as well as the subsequent attempt from both the University and the regional government to cover up the scandal through document forgery . Preliminary probing revealed evidence of possible criminal offenses that were subsequently put under investigation of the judiciary , questioning Cifuentes 's continuity as regional premier . After the release of a 2011 video showing her being detained in a supermarket for shoplifting , Cifuentes resigned on 25 April 2018 . She was succeeded by her deputy , Ángel Garrido , who was sworn into office on 21 May . Cifuentes 's scandal joined many others in a long list of corruption cases beleaguering the ruling People 's Party in Spain that ended up with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy 's downfall on 1 June through a vote of no confidence in the Congress of Deputies
vote of no confidence
2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy
2019 Madrilenian regional election