Mayor Jaume Collboni stated at the Vanguardia Awards gala that the eviction in the Madrid neighbourhood of Retiro "could not happen today in the same way in Barcelona." The event marked the unofficial start of the municipal electoral campaign.
The gala for the Vanguardia Awards, held at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, served as an unofficial kick-off for a municipal electoral campaign that will last until 23 May. The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, took the opportunity to distance himself from the eviction in the Madrid neighbourhood of Retiro, known as the Maricarmen case.
Collboni asserted that such an episode would not be acceptable today in the Catalan capital. He made this statement before an audience of civil society representatives, business leaders, and many of his future electoral rivals present.
"A case like this could not happen today in the same way in Barcelona"
The mayor has made the "right to stay in Barcelona" his banner for the upcoming elections. Among the measures his municipal government advocates is the elimination, by 2028, of all regulated tourist apartment offerings, a decision that has sparked controversy in the sector.
Collboni's assertion has not gone unnoticed by the opposition. The candidate from Junts, Jordi Martí Galbis, and the president of the municipal group of the PP, Daniel Sirera, have taken note of remarks that will likely serve as ammunition during the campaign.
This year's awards have recognised figures with roots in neighbourhoods and municipalities in the metropolitan area. Singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, born in Poble Sec, received the lifetime achievement award. Also honoured were the company Fluidra, which started as a family business in Poblenou and is now a world leader in pools and wellness, and the illusionist El Mago Pop, son of Badia del Vallès, who is working to turn Paral·lel into the Catalan Broadway.
The list of awardees also includes Isidro Fainé, president of the La Caixa Foundation and promoter of the CaixaResearch Institute, and soprano Montserrat Caballé, born in Gràcia, remembered for her international career.
Unlike the previous edition, when Barcelona celebrated the consecration of the tallest tower of the Sagrada Família and the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, this time there is no major immediate event on the horizon. The city maintains its international projection in technological and cultural fields, partly thanks to the leadership of the awardees.
The event made it clear that housing will be the central focus of the electoral battle in Barcelona. Candidates have months of campaigning ahead to confront their proposals on rentals, tourism, and public safety before Barcelonians head to the polls on 23 May.
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