Miriam González, lawyer specializing in international trade and president of the España Mejor Foundation, led the colloquium "Democracy and Civil Society in a Context of Polarization" at the Círculo Ecuestre this Wednesday.
Following the institutional presentation by Tirso Gracia, a member of the Círculo Ecuestre's Executive Committee, Miriam González reflected on the challenges facing democracy today, addressing her proposals for promoting more open and participatory politics.
At the beginning of her discussion, moderated by journalist and writer Màrius Carol, González highlighted the value of the Transition as a unique moment of consensus in Spain's recent history: "I was a child of the Transition". "I was 8 years old when Franco died, and I remember that collective spirit of commitment that transcended ideological differences", the expert added.
However, the speaker continued her speech by explaining that much of it is being lost: "The younger generations cannot share the spirit that was experienced then because today power has become too concentrated, with no will to yield or move forward". She added forcefully that democratic regeneration will only be possible if citizens firmly demand it. Likewise, the lawyer and president of the España Mejor Foundation expressed that she is not clear about what her generation did for the following ones, but she is clear about what her parents and grandparents did for hers.
During the colloquium, Miriam González issued a clear warning about the mirage that Europe is currently experiencing in its perception of the international context. She also pointed out that, although the situation seems not as negative compared to other countries, Spain is experiencing a period of economic growth that is not responding to political action.
During their dialogue, he also warned about the distancing of values between Europe and the United States, especially regarding the democratic vision and the new global paradigm marked by the technological race and artificial intelligence: "The United States has only one priority: to win the technological war, whatever the cost. If that means imposing tariffs, intervening in third countries, or breaking trade agreements, they will do it", she declared firmly.
In this context, González underscored the urgent need for Europe to act with its own vision: "We are on the brink of a new global crisis like the one in 2008, and the sooner we understand this, the better. Without Europe behind us, Spain would have much more difficulty sustaining itself".
For his part, Màrius Carol pointed out that the current situation is not so much a result of internal disorder as a deeply chaotic global context. In his analysis, he highlighted the growing difficulty in maintaining sustainable discourses over time, due to a dynamic of constant confrontation that prevents progress toward lasting consensus.
Miriam González agreed that the degradation of public debate has been accelerated by social media: “What's important is no longer the content of the debate, but rather whether someone can get a 20-second break attacking their opponent. Real ideas are discussed in small circles, without media attention”, she noted.
During the conversation, she also proposed concrete measures to restore trust in politics: greater professionalization of public officials, modernization of the transparency law, review of the system of special jurisdictions, and updating the regulatory framework surrounding conflicts of interest. “If I were president of the government, the first thing I would do would be to request the resumes of all senior officials. If they don't have adequate training, they're out. We have a lot of hidden talent that can't flourish because of those who have seized power”.
In her criticism of institutional immobility, Miriam also called for citizen participation: “Civil society hasn't given up on intervening in politics, but it needs real spaces to do so”, she stated. In his opinion, if the parties cannot reach consensus on key issues such as education or housing, they should at least clearly outline their proposals and allow the citizens to decide. For González, the democratic system cannot remain static, but must evolve at the pace of society.
For his part, Enrique Lacalle, President of the Círculo Ecuestre, who closed the event, highlighted some of the challenges facing Spain, such as the overlapping administration and the high cost this represents for the government. He also lamented the lack of constructive proposals from the main political parties and criticized a political dynamic marked by constant confrontation, which, according to him, generates citizen fatigue. Finally, Enrique Lacalle firmly thanked Miriam González for her participation in the club and positively praised her career and commitment to the nation's future.