Overview

• The court cited Supreme Court doctrine that parties must show direct impact on their legal rights or organizational interests before contesting administrative honors.
• Judges held that the PSOE’s objections were rooted in political disagreement over honoring an ideologically opposing leader and thus fell outside judicial review.
• In its 2024 appeal the PSOE alleged the medal’s decree bypassed required procedures by awarding it during a non-official visit, accusing Ayuso of “fraude de ley.”
• Ayuso conferred the regional Medal of Honor on Argentina’s President Javier Milei in June 2024 after Spain briefly pulled its ambassadors from Buenos Aires over Milei’s insults toward Pedro Sánchez.
• The PSOE has five days to decide whether to pursue a cassation appeal at the Supreme Court, which could clarify political parties’ standing in administrative disputes.