Xavier Trias has already said ‘no’ and those who baptized his possible return as ‘Operation Biden’ already consider said mission aborted. Some already tried it before Elsa Artadi decided to leave politics and others saw a new opportunity when Junts’ candidate for mayor became vacant, but there is no chance. “I am retired and I will help with everything that is asked of me, but we have to think of a candidate for a city project for the next 10 or 15 years,” Xavier Trias himself confirms. The former mayor, who is in top form, will be 76 years old when the municipal elections are held in May 2023, two fewer than Joe Biden had when he became president of the United States.
However, regardless of age, Trias believes that the first thing they have to do in Junts is to clarify. “If those from Junts, Centrem, PDECat… are not united, we are going to crash into a wall.” For Trias, a good option would be Jordi Martí i Gabis. Martí was the right-hand man of the former mayor during his term, he has long experience in the city council, he is well regarded by the party, but he is very unknown at the popular level. Martí was introduced to me by Josep Maldonado at Barcelona City Hall the day the city medal was awarded to the family of the sadly disappeared ‘are Manel. This veteran politician from Convergència already pointed out to me then that people would hear about him.
Before, the primaries
To all that, it will be necessary to celebrate some primaries. Of course, they will not be before the Junts congress on June 4. More mess and more names. Neus Munté, Ferran Mascarell or the coordinator of the municipal group of Junts in the town hall, Joan Rodríguez, are on the waiting list. but none of them has majority support. The option of the current president of the Port of Barcelona and former minister, Damiá Calvet, has also been considered. “Now I am focused on the Port, on other functions within the party and, furthermore, I was not born in Barcelona,” Calvet himself argued after attending the Afterwork in which the founder and CEO of Casa Ametller, Josep Ametller, participated this Thursday. Joan Clos was from Mollet del Vallès and could have been mayor of Barcelona after Maragall and before Hereu.
There are two other names with more support and with the approval of numerous party members. On the one hand, there is the current ‘conseller’ of Health, Josep Maria Argimon. Some already see him as the new Trias. Argimon brings together some of the qualities that are lacking in many of today’s politicians. He has his own career as a doctor and has proven to be a good manager. In addition, he is an educated guy, prepared and a good communicator. The name is on the table, but after consulting various sources there has still been no proposal.
The list does not end here because Pilar Calvo is well positioned. The journalist, like Argimon, does not come from politics and is also a good communicator. Calvo has been in Madrid since the party asked her to and together with Miriam Nogueras she is doing a good job. However, some think that she would be the one who would adapt to Artadi’s position more easily.
More cards in the deck
Finally, since they are few, it is not ruled out that Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas supported by Laura Borrás are also encouraged to introduce themselves. Of course, some voices in the party think that Cuevillas should close his public face and work behind closed doors…
I have not mentioned the name of the ‘conseller’ of Economy, Jaume Giró, because all the sources consulted affirm that it would not make sense to burn the ‘conseller’ when he is headed for higher challenges.
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In short, as Xavier Trias says, “what those from Junts must do first is clarify themselves”. By the way, that the ‘Biden operation’ could also be appropriated by the ERC. There are already those who point out that Ernest Maragall, who will turn 80 in January, will be presented together with the current delegate of the Government in Madrid and ‘former minister’ of Justice, Ester Capella. A) Yes, Maragall would be the Catalan Biden and Capella, the Kamala Harris.
Well, that, that the municipal elections will be held on May 28, 2023. There is little more than a year to go and instead of clearing doubts every day everything is more turbulent. The only thing clear is that this time Manuel Valls will not appear. We will see who will decide this time the mayor or mayor…