Collboni: "There is no freedom without security" after the disturbances in Barcelona

The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, defends public order as a condition for democracy following the looting of recent weeks. He made this statement during the inauguration of World in Progress in the city.

Collboni attributes the calm of recent days to the coordination between Mossos d'Esquadra and Guardia Urbana de Barcelona. According to the mayor, this joint effort allowed for a return to normality after the serious incidents of the previous weekend. He expressed this at the third edition of the World in Progress forum, organised by PRISA in the Catalan capital.

The preventive operation on Saturday was initiated by the Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat, aiming to prevent further looting linked to calls from the group Blocus. According to the report released after the day, 1,440 people were identified and three were arrested.

"We have demonstrated that when institutions work together, anticipate problems, and act effectively, the citizens benefit."

Collboni directly linked this police action to the recovery of citizens' trust in institutions. He also wanted to acknowledge the professionalism of the agents who participated in the operation.

Beyond the incidents, the mayor presented a diagnosis of European democracies. He described a period of rapid changes, uncertainty, and distrust, a scenario that, in his view, favours polarization. He pointed to the far right, which he accuses of exploiting the fears of the population, and to ultraliberal approaches that question the role of public institutions.

Collboni clarified that coexistence does not depend solely on security. He stated that economic opportunities, social cohesion, and a collective project that provides stability to residents are also necessary.

In terms of urban development, the mayor presented the horizon of 2035 as a transformative phase comparable to that brought by the 1992 Olympic Games. He explained that developments in Sagrera, Marina del Prat Vermell, the Zona Franca area, and the 22@ district will allow for the construction of up to 45,000 homes, both protected and free, and more than one million square metres for economic activity.

Sagrera concentrates over 11,000 homes in its vicinity, approximately half of which are protected or designated. Collboni added the transformation of the Fira de Barcelona venue in Montjuïc, scheduled for 2029, and the expansion of the airport.

For the residents, the mayor emphasised the right to continue living in the city. He warned that the difficulty in becoming independent and finding a home generates frustration, especially among young people, and that this weakens trust in institutions.