Miriam González Durántez, a prominent lawyer and former EU adviser, has officially launched a new political party in Spain named Democracia21. The launch comes as the country prepares for a snap general election scheduled for next month. González Durántez, who is married to former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, stated that the party is intended to offer a modern and transparent alternative to the current political landscape.

The party’s platform positions itself as a centrist, liberal movement. According to the initial manifesto released by the group, Democracia21 seeks to move away from what it describes as a political culture driven by fear, insults, and nostalgia. The manifesto explicitly criticizes the two dominant forces in Spanish politics: the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) and the conservative opposition. By positioning itself between these two established powers, the party hopes to appeal to voters who are dissatisfied with the current two-party dynamic.

While the launch has been framed by the founder as a necessary step to 'clean up' Spanish politics, the party faces the immediate challenge of establishing a foothold in a short timeframe before the upcoming national vote. The movement is emphasizing a break from traditional partisan rhetoric, though it remains to be seen how the party will differentiate its specific policy proposals from other existing centrist or liberal movements within the Spanish political spectrum.