Key facts
- Miriam González Durántez launched a new liberal, centrist party in Spain.
- The party is named Democracia21 and aims for transparent politics.
- Democracia21 will contest the snap general election on November 29 in Madrid and Barcelona.
- The party proposes scrapping housing taxes for those under 35.
- González Durántez views immigration as an asset for Spain.
- Spain's Supreme Court maintained the suspension of voting rights for tens of thousands of overseas voters.
Miriam González Durántez, a Spanish lawyer and former EU adviser, has launched a new liberal, centrist political party named Democracia21. The party aims to provide an alternative to Spain's dominant socialist and conservative parties, focusing on transparency and addressing key voter concerns such as the housing crisis and immigration.
Democracia21's manifesto criticizes both the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE) and the rightwing People's party (PP) for prioritizing short-term political gains over governing, leading to issues like unaffordable housing and growing bureaucracy. The party promises a "radical political cleanup" to combat corruption, referencing scandals that have affected both major parties.
González Durántez announced that Democracia21 will compete in the upcoming snap general election on November 29 in Madrid and Barcelona. She specifically addressed the housing crisis, proposing to scrap housing taxes for individuals under 35 and arguing that a young person earning €1,300 a month should not pay more than €350 in rent. She also defended controlled immigration as an asset for Spain, emphasizing the need for state control while integrating newcomers.
The launch of Democracia21 comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election following the rejection of his emergency housing measures by rightwing and far-right parties. Polls suggest the PP may win the most votes but fall short of an absolute majority, potentially requiring support from the far-right Vox party. Sánchez is reportedly hoping that the PP's alliance with Vox and Catalan separatists on housing issues will mobilize leftwing and moderate voters.
Adding to the political landscape, Spain's Supreme Court has maintained the suspension of voting rights for tens of thousands of overseas voters who qualified for citizenship under a 2022 law. The PSOE has denounced this decision, accusing the PP and Vox of a "fascist agenda" aimed at disenfranchising voters. The court's ruling will not affect those who can prove their ancestors suffered exile for political or ideological reasons.