Taking advantage of the worst moment of her opponents, the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has agreed to run for a third term in the upcoming municipal elections. In the interview published by EL PERIÓDICO, the mayor justifies this decision in the need to “consolidate” the change of model for the city and denies that this means “perpetuating”. Being understandable her will to continue her work of government, she represents a turn of the initial approaches of Barcelona in Comú (not to be more than eight years in a public position) that, although it has obtained the endorsement of the militants, brings it closer to the ways of conventional politics which he abjured at the beginning. The Ada Colau who will present herself in the next elections is not now that activist from the Platform of People Affected by Mortgages. Now it is able to distinguish between the various business projects that demand the support of the city and help those that fit with its model of a humane and sustainable city, as has happened in the case of the Mobile World Congress and its recent support for the Copa Sailing America. However, despite this pragmatic Turn, and undoubtedly positive actions with regard to daily life in some neighborhoods of the city, in other decisions it has provoked a extensive, and sometimes bitter, debate. Substantive issues related to the project that Barcelona en Comú and its socialist allies have for the city have been mixed up in the controversy, with others related to the mayor’s way of acting.
In the interview, Colau attributes these criticisms to the impact of his decisions on economic elites. There may be a grain of truth in this, although there is a reckless underestimation of the political opposition, and the mayor would do well to recognize that her way of acting has contributed to the disagreement with many social sectors, not only the most affluent. She has plenty of ideology and has lacked dialogue. Be it on the subject of the Eixample ‘superilla’ or on the measures aimed at reducing traffic and making the city a leader in the creation of low-emission zones. Having well-oriented ideas is a prerequisite for any mayor who wants to leave his mark on a city, but it is not enough. It is necessary to govern, dialogue with the opposition and, especially with the citizens, and be willing to give in to what is not decisive in order to seek the broadest possible consensus. In some of its main projects, there has been a lack of a precise study of its impact and its financial and social cost, whether we are talking about creating wealth, living better or dealing with climate change. It may be that urban planning, where Barcelona has always been a pioneer, is the area where this lack has been most visible: with a lot of tactical urban planning and a certain lack of strategic vision.
After two municipal mandates, the mayor makes an accurate diagnosis of the issues on the city’s agenda (environment, housing, tourism, inequality…), but the speed with which she intends to implement the changes polarize public opinion both regarding his figure and his government actions. As much as Colau maintains that Barcelona en Comú is a collective project, there is no doubt that personalism with which she has printed it, which will lead her to face the next elections as a plebiscite among the people of Barcelona (Colau yes, Colau no) where he will play it all or nothing.