On October 20, EL PAÍS Premium subscribers will have exclusive access to the first installment of ‘Moncloa: Cuatro Estaciones’, a documentary that promises to reveal the best kept secrets of the Presidency of the Spanish Government. The project, led by the filmmaker Curro Sánchez Varela and produced by The Pool and Secuoya Studios, will offer an unprecedented look at the bowels of La Moncloa, the government headquarters where decisions that affect the entire country are made. It must be taken into account that this is a docuseries that no one wanted to broadcast at first.
Divided into four episodes, the documentary will take place throughout the four seasons of the year, each of which will focus on a notable event in the political and administrative life of Spain. However, this launch comes after years of delays, controversies and doubts about its broadcast, turning the project into a kind of “cursed documentary” that, until now, no network had dared to broadcast.
Everyday life in the center of power
‘Moncloa: Cuatro Estaciones’ is not limited to portraying the great political moments that marked the legislature of Pedro Sánchez, but also delves into the daily functioning of the seat of Government. The documentary highlights the fundamental role of anonymous workers, whose lives revolve around the intense activity that La Moncloa requires.
Among the protagonists of the documentary, profiles as diverse as the falconer in charge of the venue’s aerial security stand outthe cook who has served different presidents for decades, the president’s secretary, and those in charge of reading the letters that citizens send to the Government. These testimonials provide an intimate view of what it means to work in an environment of maximum responsibility, where every minute counts.
Curro Sánchez Varela, in an interview with EL PAÍS, He noted that the documentary “reveals the functioning of the Government machinery,” and anticipates that it will be possible to visit less accessible spaces, such as the Department of Homeland Security bunker, which adds an undeniable attraction for the public.
Four chapters, four key moments
Each episode of ‘Moncloa: Cuatro Estaciones’ focuses on a season of the year and a relevant milestone for the Government. In spring, the focus falls on the negotiations so that the European Union recognize the “Iberian exception”, allowing Spain and Portugal to limit gas prices amid the energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The summer revolves around the organization of the NATO summit in Madrid, a vitally important event that brought together the main world leaders. The documentary shows the meticulous preparation work, from security to receptions at La Moncloa, in a meeting that marked the future of the organization for the next decade.
During the fall, the focus is on Spain’s participation in COP27 in Egypt, with the Minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, as the main protagonist. The docuseries tells how the negotiations to address the global climate emergency developed and how Spain sought to position itself as a leader in the fight against climate change.
Finally, winter collects the tense negotiations of the General State Budgets of 2023, led by the first vice president and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, in collaboration with other key ministers, such as Félix Bolaños and Yolanda Díaz. These budgets were crucial to guarantee the stability of the Government at a time of great political uncertainty.
The long road to its premiere
Although the content of the documentary is of great political and social relevance, the trajectory of ‘Moncloa: Cuatro Estaciones’ until its premiere has been marked by uncertainty. Despite having been completed in March 2023, its broadcast was repeatedly postponed. The trailer for the documentary, released in autumn 2022, had generated enormous expectations, not only for its informative value, but also as a vehicle to improve the image of then-president Pedro Sánchez.
However, subsequent events, such as judicial investigations that affected close members of Sánchez’s family environment, as well as the political crisis that affected his mandate, caused the documentary to be outdated before being broadcast. The president’s advisors, who originally saw the docuseries as a tool to reinforce his public image, began to express doubts about its appropriateness.
In response to a query made by the Popular Party, The Government recently indicated that the contract with the production company was still valid, but no addendum had been made to modify the content. This left the door open to the possibility of the series airing as planned, even if political circumstances had changed drastically.
A cursed series?
The project, which at the time was seen as an opportunity to show the most human and close side of Pedro Sánchez, was losing momentum as the scandals developed. and the political crisis that surrounded the president. Since then, the documentary has remained in limbo, collecting dust and becoming what many have called a “cursed series.”
The interest of the major television networks in broadcasting the documentary was also waning. Initially, giants like Mediaset seemed interested in acquiring the broadcasting rights, but the complications derived from the 2023 electoral cycle, as well as the possible repetition of general and regional elections, became excuses to postpone its launch.
Furthermore, the controversies that involved some of the political protagonists, such as the departure of key figures from the Government such as Carmen Calvo and Nadia Calviño, and the almost certain departure of Teresa Ribera, made the series be perceived as an outdated and potentially problematic product. .
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