Jaume Collboni: "I will govern Barcelona only with those who are loyal to the Spanish State"

In his third election as a PSC candidate, Jaume Collboni (Barcelona, 1969) leads the polls to win next Sunday in the Catalan capital, by bringing together a good part of the useful vote against Ada Colau despite having been the vice mayor. Faced with the reasonable doubts that this past raises in some, Collboni undertakes to repeal Collauism.

Before the procés, the figure of the “Catalan emprenyat” (pissed off) was talked about to explain a latent malaise in broad layers of society, now instead anger is personalized by the “angry Barcelonan”.. This feeling of discontent, sometimes diffuse, and of nostalgia is reflected in the vast social majority that asks for change to return to being the open Barcelona that many people have in their heads. It is curious to see how the nationalists claim that socialist Barcelona of the Olympic Games, since they are confirming that we are the only alternative to Ada Colau, because we represent the only possibility of change for the city to shine again. But you have been vice mayor until you resigned in January. He will understand that some citizens do not end up seeing him as the alternative to Colau. The genesis that gave rise to the government coalition in Barcelona between the commons of Ada Colau and the PSC was to avoid having a pro-independence mayor in full process. And we achieved it in collaboration with Manuel Valls. That was our first goal accomplished. Secondly, I have to say that we have spent two thirds of the term in pandemic and dedicating ourselves to saving jobs and lives. And in this mandate, if positive things have to be highlighted, I will highlight that there are already planned 1.3 million square meters of economic surface and up to 70,000 new homes. This transformation has been made because the PSC has provided common sense, stability and correct relations with the State and the European institutions. What city project do you offer? People now ask us for order. Beyond the city model, this is a priority: safe, clean neighborhoods, with a friendly environment for pedestrians and drivers. As well as an environment of opportunities for economic activity, promoting public-private collaboration, large fairs, quality tourism. The Barcelonan wants to feel the pride of living in one of the best cities in the world, so that all Spaniards feel proud of it. We want to tell the world that Barcelona is back. If he wins, however, he must govern in coalition.. The polls say that we are going to win the elections. But I not only want to win them, I want to have broad support so as not to have dependencies when it comes to governing. That's why I ask for the useful vote. Voting for the PSC will save Barcelona, voting for Trias will save Puigdemont. We are the only alternative force to Colau and the independence movement that can win the elections. We are a constitutionalist force. But with whom is he willing to rule? If it is necessary to establish a dialogue with other political forces after 28-M to govern, I will put three very clear conditions: work in favor of economic growth, shield the welfare system, and loyalty to the Spanish State and the European institutions. The independence movement presses for Barcelona to be “more of the capital of Catalonia” and to distance itself from Madrid. What kind of relationship do you want between the two cities? We want to reconnect Barcelona with the rest of Spain, with Europe and with Latin America, highlighting those factors. We must send very powerful messages from the city, because during the years of the procés and Colau there has been a stupid and dangerous isolationism, which has gone against the open nature of the city. Security. The global data say that it has improved, but violent robberies have increased and there is great discomfort among the people of Barcelona. If the people of Barcelona have a security concern, it will be a priority for me. Just like in the face of mafia squats, we are going to have zero tolerance. We have finished this mandate with the highest Urban Guard staff in history, with the commitment to incorporate 1,000 more agents. As regards the Urban Police, we have acted. Is the problem, therefore, the Generalitat? To combat crime we must expand the ordinary police, the Mossos de Esquadra. The low estimate is that Barcelona needs 600 more agents, but the Generalitat has been denying us this for four years. In the budget agreement between Salvador Illa and Pere Aragonès it is finally recognized in writing that these 600 new agents will be deployed. Along with that, it is necessary to update the norms of the civility ordinance and aggravate the sanctions. And we must restore the democratic present of our police, undermined in recent years by the procés when the Generalitat itself did not defend police actions to maintain public order in the face of the pro-independence riots. Is there a political will on the part of the Government to punish Barcelona? As nationalism has always done, the Generalitat continues to treat Barcelona and the people of Barcelona as second-class Catalans. It has not invested in housing either. In the last four years he has built two social housing. It has fourteen primary care centers pending reform, it has investment stops in the metro stations. That is why ERC is sunk in the polls in Barcelona, they have realized that nationalism punishes the city. All in all, I am a great defender of institutional loyalty, which is the best framework for achieving progress for citizens, and I hope to have a cordial and correct relationship with the Generalitat, not one of subordination. We must depoliticize the institutional relationship and put the citizen and their needs as a priority. Barcelona lost cultural strength, partly due to the Generalitat's contempt for all expression that is not in Catalan. What has to identify the city is its cultural offer. It must be the last name of Barcelona. I am committed to promoting a city of free creators and to recovering Barcelona’s cultural identity, for example its status as the publishing capital of the Latin American world. We must reclaim this legacy and tradition of the city. My commitment as the new mayor is to promote a study commission to make a proposal for a consensual expansion. Barcelona cannot miss opportunities. The debate is not so much about the airport itself, which is a symbol, but about the economic and social model of the city. I would like the supporters of economic degrowth as Colau, but sometimes also ERC, to explain how they will create jobs. And what relationship should Barcelona have with tourism? It is one of its main industries. The pandemic taught us that we cannot give up tourism.. That moment served to vaccinate us against the discourse of tourism-phobia that many groups have practiced, as we have learned that we do not want a mass tourism that depredates the city. We want an orderly and quality tourism that appreciates the destination because it consumes culture and heritage. And there is a very valuable type of instant for Barcelona. That of the congress and fairs such as Mobile or SeaFood.