THE wife of former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has launched a new political party in Spain ahead of next month’s snap general election.
Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, an international trade lawyer who married the ex-Liberal Democrats leader in 2000, unveiled Democracia 21 at a rally in Madrid.
The new centrist party will contest the November 29 election in the capital and Barcelona, with Gonzalez standing to replace prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who announced the snap vote last week.
“We are going to turn Spanish politics inside out like a sock,” the 58-year-old told a crowd of nearly 700 people at the Domo 360 venue, including Clegg and the couple’s three children.
Gonzalez has been outspoken in her criticism of both the ruling socialist PSOE and conservative opposition Partido Popular (PP), and has previously vowed to ‘clean up’ the Spanish political system.
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? Miriam González presenta Democracia 21, partido con el que se presenta como candidata a la presidencia del Gobierno y llama a "recuperar dos palabras, 'lo arreglo', encuentro un problema y no juego con el electoralmente, simplemente, lo arreglo" https://t.co/Wf1ov27oIJ pic.twitter.com/mn23y7tElD
— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) October 10, 2026
She urged Sanchez and Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the PP, to ‘stop fighting each other, work together and start solving Spain’s problems’, adding: “We cannot go on with two blocs and nothing that favours consensus.”
Gonzalez announced a range of policies designed to reform a political system she said had degenerated ‘for the benefit of’ those in power.
That includes a vow to implement a two-term limit for office holders, an express reform of the constitution, making the public prosecutors accountable to parliament and requiring MPs to return to their constituencies at least once every two weeks.
She also announced a swathe of measures designed to tackle the housing crisis, which has become the major issue of the election after the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, who died earlier this week.
Her programme promises a national housing plan guaranteeing ten years of legal certainty, the scrapping of housing-related taxes for under-31s and a target that a young person earning €1,300 per month spends no more than €350 on housing.
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Democracia 21, which has adopted a yellow colour scheme akin to that of the Lib Dems, is far from Gonzalez’s first foray into the world of Spanish politics.
In 2024, she set up a campaign group called España Mejor to press for policy reforms in several areas, including ethics in government, housing, taxation and tourism.
Born in Olmedo in 1968, Gonzalez is the daughter of Jose Antonio Gonzalez Caviedes, the town’s former mayor and later a PP senator for Valladolid.
She worked for the European Commission from 1996 to 2004 and later built a business career with roles at Acciona, Toyota and healthcare company Atrys.
She divides her time between Spain and London, where her husband Nick is currently based.
— democracia21 (@democracia21_) October 10, 2026Un mensaje directo para Pedro Sánchez y Alberto Núñez Feijóo:
“Cojan juntos el Falcon, váyanse a Bruselas y negocien para que los más de 10.000 millones de euros de fondos Next Generation que sobran se destinen a construir vivienda asequible en España.” pic.twitter.com/en98jew4zt
Clegg, 59, has embarked on a lucrative business career since stepping away from politics.
Last year, the former MP for Sheffield Hallam announced his resignation as head of global affairs at Meta, the American tech company behind Facebook and Instagram.
He is estimated to have amassed a personal fortune of £100 million in the process.
Clegg served as the deputy prime minister of the UK between 2010 and 2015 after striking a coalition agreement with David Cameron, the leader of the Conservatives, following an indecisive general election.
He stood down as party leader in 2015 and left UK politics at the 2017 general election.
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