Barcelona has opened the public support phase for its next Ombudsman, with residents now able to back one of two candidates for the city role. The process began on 1 June and runs until 23:59 on 30 June.
The candidates are current Ombudsman David Bondia and jurist Esther Calvet. The role, known in Catalan as the Síndic de Greuges, defends fundamental rights and public liberties for people in Barcelona.
Residents aged 16 or over who are registered in Barcelona can take part. Entities listed in the General Register of Citizen Entities by 31 December 2025 can also give support. The City Council will host information and voting space on its Decidim.Barcelona participation platform, with physical support points in each district.
The office acts as an independent guardian of citizen rights against possible abuses or administrative errors by the local government. In a city of more than 1.6 million people, including a large international community, the Ombudsman is a key check on how the council and its agencies treat residents.
Bondia is seeking re-election with the backing of 50 city entities. He has led the office for the past five years, has served as president of the Global Alliance of Local Ombudspersons, and has held roles including president of the Human Rights Institute of Catalonia and member of the Catalan Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture working group. He is also a professor at the University of Barcelona. More on the office is available on the Barcelona Ombudsman website.
Calvet has support from three city entities so far. She has more than 30 years of experience in rights, social policy, good governance and ethics, and has worked in the third sector and public management. Her background includes leading the Transparency Agency in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, serving in the Parliament of Catalonia, sitting on the Catalan Police Ethics Committee, and helping draft Barcelona's Charter of Citizen Rights and Duties. The Parliament of Catalonia and the City Council are the main public bodies linked to her previous work.
After the public support phase, municipal technical teams will prepare a report in July and share it with the municipal groups. The Municipal Council Plenary will then make the final decision, which needs a two-thirds majority. The election is expected in September, with a formal appointment potentially in November. For more local coverage, see our Community and Politics pages.
