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TalkReal in Madrid: new Spanish politics

Citizen coalitions have been in power for six months in Madrid, Barcelona, and many more cities in Spain. What are the main take-aways? And what will happen with the Spanish national elections of 20 December? (Video, 32 mins)

From the indignados and 15M to housing struggles and municipalismo, Spain has been at the forefront of some of the most creative and effective social movements of recent years. With citizen-led coalitions now governing in Madrid and Barcelona, many see the Spainish context as offering a beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak political context.

As the country heads to the polls on #20D in one of the most unpredictable elections for many years, the capacity for upstart parties and movements to grow further will be affected by the result.  But how exactly is the capacity of Spain’s grassroots politics related to what happens in parliament? And how important is Podemos’s performance in the elections to the future of progressive politics in the country?

In our latest English language episode, filmed in the studios of La Tuerka, the talkshow founded by Pablo Inglesias, we discuss these questions and more with Juan Luis Sánchez (eldiario.es), Carlos Delclos (ROAR), Ana Méndez and Mario Munero (City of Madrid).

openDemocracy Author

Lorenzo Marsili

Lorenzo Marsili is founding director of transnational organisation European Alternatives and one of the initiators of pan-European movement DiEM25. He has previously worked in publishing and was founding editor of the cultural quarterly Naked Punch. He is an active commentator and public speaker internationally. His latest book, Citizens of Nowhere, is forthcoming from Zed Books. He tweets @l_marsili.

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Carlos Delclós

Carlos Delclós is a sociologist, researcher and editor for ROAR Magazine. His research interests include international migration, social stratification, fertility, urban sociology, social movements and cultural theory. He recently published the e-book Hope is a Promise: From the Indignados to the Rise of Podemos in Spain on Zed Books, now available for less than $3.00.

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Juan Luis Sanchez

Juan Luis Sánchez is director of eldiario.es.

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Ana Mendez

Ana Méndez is an architect and urban planner currently working in the culture department of the City of Madrid.

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Mario Munero

Mario Munero works in the communications department of the City of Madrid.

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