The flow of travelers in the different modalities of the high-speed corridor between Madrid and Barcelona It seems unbalanced for far too long now: Barcelona residents are looking for an oxygen bath they can’t find in their city. Also cultural offer, or business opportunities. A flow that has its correspondence in the image that each city has on one side and the other side of the railway line of itself. And it goes beyond relaxation, with the impression firmly established in business sector that the Catalan capital adds too easily missed opportunities and unnecessary obstacles. With more energy used to stop initiatives than to start them.
Seen from the other side of the mirror, the panorama can be seen as an inverted image. There will be no shortage of people from Madrid observing aspects in their city that may go unnoticed by the visitor or even the entrepreneur: a model of suburban growth, consolidated by extreme liberal governments except for a four-year hiatus, which local trade punishes and gives priority to large areas, it multiplies mobility and neglects essential public services such as primary health care. But it does not appear that they are the majority – at least that’s what the polls said – nor that these arguments serve to balance the minds of the people of Barcelona, which may not be the difference between the choking of their CAP and that of the capital’s health centers, or they should not consider gestures such as the overthrow of Madrid Central or the opening of the restaurant and nightlife sectors as an example to avoid.
The debate between the strength of Madrid and the decline of Barcelona may be more nuanced with the bare and objective figures in hand (GDP growth after the coronavirus crisis, recovery of employment, attracting foreign investment, assessment of social services) or if the distortion effect of the ‘processes’ or tax competition on factors such as the ability to attract Spanish tourism or the location of business decision-making centers are considered. Or if the focus is on the health condition of specific sectors (such as the collapse of the audiovisual sector in Catalonia). But a lot of the game is played in the field of feelings, of self-esteem, Bui. Of exist or not of a model (Madrid has one, which can be shared or rejected, but which one is Barcelona?). And if this intangible factor has an impact anyway, it is in the evaluation of local political leaders and in the decision to vote, with the municipal elections 15 months ahead.
Barcelona’s latest citizen barometer has gathered an apparent contradiction with the mayor Ada Colau as a favorite and a increase in public unrest to numerous aspects of city management. A reflection of a Polarization entrenched among loyal and incensed voters. The sum of discomfort and grievances can give arguments to election strategies based on the exploitation of these negative visions of the city. Denying them can give reason to maintain an uncritical complacency with what has been done so far. But what Barcelona need is for the candidates to offer projects that allow to restore optimism, self-esteem and initiative to the city. That one of them convinces them that as mayor they will make the people of Barcelona feel proud of their city again, and will not envy what others do.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com