Independientes por Madrid launched their Madrid City Council 2027 electoral campaign this weekend at Teatro Alfil, pledging to go past party politics and deliver for the citizens of Madrid. Headed up by former Deputy Mayor of Madrid Marta Higueras, the group spoke of a desire to significantly beef up the City of Madrid´s anti-corruption office and remove it from political interference.
Despite the political affliations of Marta Higueres and Javier Flores, there was a public commitment that the priorities of the campaign are not on a left right spectrum but on being genuine municipalists whose primary focus is the people of Madrid. The use of Madrid as a vehicle for national politics was explicity rejected.
Other pledges involve direct participation in spending projects district by district from residents themselves as well as reinforcing public employment as a place of meritocracy rather than of suspected ‘clientelismo’.
“In Madrid it isn´t a matter of resources but of priorities” – Javier Flores (Independientes por Madrid)
The main focus of the event was on what the speakers percieved to be a lack of priorities , with the hosting of the Formula 1 race seen as a clear example of a politics more committed to selfies and style over the substance of public services. Nor is Independientes por Madrid interested in merely being a talking shop, with their innovative campaign of ‘Madrid está sucio’ a practical example.
Highlighting the increasing filth in Madrid´s streets , residents have been submitting over 4,000 (and counting) photos as evidence of the decrease in the quality of Madrid´s public square.
🤝 Una jornada para sumar, escuchar y compartir.
Todo un éxito del encuentro y la participación de quienes apuestan por una política municipal centrada en la gestión y en los vecinos.
Gracias.#independientespormadrid #municipalismo #madrid #centradosenmadrid #politicalocal pic.twitter.com/xC3wmyTrhy
— IndependientesPorMadrid (@indepenMadrid) September 20, 2026
Clearly there is a long way to go for Independientes por Madrid and clearing the 5% threshold from a standing start at the next Madrid City elections is likely to be a tall order. Still, a packed Teatro Afil theatre hall is at least a sign that they can move beyond social media and into the real world.
Photos used with the permission of Independientes por Madrid .
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