Miriam Gonzalez Durantez Launches Centrist Party Ahead of Spain Election
Spanish lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez has launched a new political party, Democracy21, ahead of the country’s snap general election scheduled for November 29. The party plans to field candidates in Madrid and Barcelona, promising to bridge ideological divisions, strengthen democratic values and depoliticise public institutions. Gonzalez Durantez, who is married to former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, criticised the rivalry between Spain’s Socialists and conservative People’s Party (PP), saying it has hindered political consensus.
The launch comes amid growing political uncertainty after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called an early election following parliament’s rejection of proposed measures to address the housing crisis. Opinion polls suggest the conservative PP and far-right Vox could secure a combined parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, housing shortages and soaring rents have triggered widespread protests across Spain, intensifying public frustration with political leaders.
Gonzalez Durantez blamed both the ruling coalition and the opposition for failing to tackle the housing crisis, arguing that excessive regulations and delays in approving construction projects have driven up housing costs and restricted affordable supply. She pledged that Democracy21 would focus on solving problems rather than exploiting them for political gain, calling for cooperation across ideological lines to modernise Spain and protect its democratic institutions.
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