Cristina Ayala Santamaría (born 17 June 1972)[1] is a Spanish
People's Party (PP) politician. After serving as a city councillor in
Burgos (2003–2007) and a deputy in the
Cortes of Castile and León (2007–2015) she was elected to the
Senate of Spain (2015–2023). She left this post upon being elected the first woman mayor of Burgos.
Biography
Born in
Burgos,
Castile and León, Ayala graduated with a law degree from the
University of Burgos, and also obtained two
master's degrees in environmental education and in local development. Before entering politics, she practiced law and was part of a group for rural development in
Castrojeriz. As of 2022, she is married and has a son and a daughter.[2]
In January 2023, Ayala was named as the PP candidate for mayor of Burgos, the first woman in this position.[6] She announced in April that she would leave the Senate if elected mayor.[7] The incumbent
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) was the most voted party with 12 of 27 seats, while the PP rose from 7 to 11, meaning it would govern if an agreement could be reached with the four councillors from
Vox.[8] The PP and Vox reached an agreement, with Vox leader Fernando Martínez-Acitores becoming deputy mayor and his party being put in charge of several areas of government.[9] She was invested on 17 June as the first female mayor of Burgos.[10]