What is Operation Miriam Gonzalez?
BarcelonaPedro Sánchez has repeatedly stated that there will be no early elections in Spain, but given his parliamentary weakness and the left-wing mobilization strategy he is pursuing by placing the Gaza genocide as the main issue in Spanish politics, no one quite believes him. Especially since Sánchez is a born gambler and at any moment, at the moment he deems most opportune to maximize his interests, he can come out with an announcement, just as he did in 2023. And even more so considering the polls: the latest Opina360 survey, published this week by Antena 3, sinks the PP to 111 seats (now 137) while raising Vox to 74 (33). The PSOE, according to the same poll, could even rise to the leading force with 130 seats (120), but it would not be able to govern because all its partners would collapse.
In this context, is there another electoral option? Some people haven't ruled it out and are once again dreaming of a reformist and "centrist" initiative in Spain, following the demise of Ciutadans (Citizens) and the failure of UPyD. Leading this possibility is Míriam González. She is a successful 56-year-old Spanish lawyer born in Olmedo (Valladolid), a former advisor to the European Union and the British government, and also the wife of former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. She has been living between London and Madrid, in addition to spending time in California following Clegg's time in Meta. She now frequently comes to Catalonia, and just this weekend she was scheduled to be at the Civet de la Fonteta, which usually brings together the most influential figures in the state.
Today, González is exploring the state and increasing his media presence. For now, he's channeling his political vocation through the association. Spain Better, a non-profit organization created in 2023 that lobbies for the Spanish government to adopt, among other things, an ethical code for senior state officials, the elimination of special jurisdiction, the promotion of a new compulsory subject in secondary school on financial literacy, public-private collaboration in housing to increase supply, a reduction in social security contributions (almost 10% for young people), and for the State to supplement the low salaries of those under 30.
These are rather liberal proposals, but those around them avoid the label and speak of a "superseding" of the left and the right. They distance themselves from both the PSOE and the PP, but have particularly attacked Pedro Sánchez - "He contrasts his particular interests with those of the country," he said this week about him in an interview on the YouTube channel of journalist David Jiménez, The Director—. She was also critical of the PSOE and ERC pact on funding.
The difficulty for Míriam González is not that there aren't enough people who define themselves as "centrists," since according to the latest CIS barometer, up to 22.2% of those surveyed fell into this ideological axis. The problem for her is the complexity of carving out a space for herself at a time of growing polarization; competing against established parties like the PP and PSOE without electoral rights, in addition to an electoral system that is not very proportional in many constituencies. What will she do then? According to those close to her, if they don't listen to her proposals—for now, neither the government nor the parties are implementing them—she will make the leap into politics, but it won't be with Spain Better.
This week, Socialist David Pérez returned to his seat in the plenary session after a heart transplant. During the session, he expressed his gratitude for the support he has received, as well as for the visits from President Salvador Illa to the hospital. He also expressed his gratitude for his calls, "short, as always," while Illa laughed under his nose.
The detention of the Flotilla caught Pedro Sánchez in the middle of a European summit in Denmark, and although it was not planned, he called the media to react. The haste was evident in the title of the speech on the Moncloa Palace's YouTube channel: "Conference." of the Pedro Sánchez".