Nicolás Sartorius and Manuel Cruz

The local and regional elections of last May ushered in a new era of politics in Spain. Journalist Manuel Cruz talks to veteran politician and writer Nicolás Sartorius, who argues that the impact of the economic crisis, austerity policies and corruption require an urgent overhaul of the country’s democracy. He describes what Spain needs in order to successfully overcome the challenges it faces, from trying to modernize its economy and strengthen its institutions to addressing constitutional reform, resolving demands for greater regional independence, the reconstruction of the welfare state and moving towards a European federal model.