Political pressure is mounting on Barcelona’s Mayor, Jaume Collboni, who is urged to protect the city’s key infrastructure projects from regional political turbulence. The opposition party Barcelona en Comú (BComú) has publicly demanded that the mayor guarantee municipal funding for major works. These include the long-awaited tram connection along Avinguda Diagonal and a massive housing regeneration scheme in the Besòs neighbourhood, independent of the stalled Catalan budget negotiations.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The call comes as the fate of the Generalitat de Catalunya’s budget hangs in the balance. The regional government, led by Salvador Illa of the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia (PSC), recently withdrew its budget proposal from a parliamentary vote, allowing more time for negotiations with the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). This impasse jeopardises an estimated €250 million in direct investments for Barcelona, according to City Council figures.
High-Stakes Projects on the Line
Among the most prominent projects at risk is the second phase of the tram network connection. The plan, which recently received final approval from the Barcelona City Council, aims to extend the tracks along the iconic Avinguda Diagonal, linking the existing lines from Verdaguer to Plaça de Francesc Macià. This critical public transport artery has a total cost of around €100 million, with the Generalitat expected to contribute €80 million for the railway infrastructure.
The €400 million urban regeneration of the El Besòs i el Maresme neighbourhood also faces uncertainty. This ambitious project involves creating a joint venture between the City Council and the Generalitat to rehabilitate around 4,000 homes. Further projects, including the construction of the Institut-Escola 30 Passos and a metro extension to the La Trinitat area, also depend on the regional funding.
“We cannot afford more stagnation on such a fundamental issue as the tram,” stated Gemma Tarafa, the president of BComú’s group in the city council.
‘Move Away from a Timid Attitude’
In a direct challenge to the mayor’s leadership, BComú’s Gemma Tarafa urged Collboni to take decisive action. She called on him to deploy “all necessary mechanisms” to ensure these projects proceed, whether a new Catalan budget is approved or not. According to a Betevé report, Tarafa criticised the mayor’s cautious approach.
“Collboni must take on the situation, move away from his timid attitude to which he has accustomed us,” she said, adding that the mayor must “fight” to see the Besòs rehabilitation through to completion.
The situation places Mayor Collboni in a delicate political position. As a leading figure in the same party (PSC) as Catalan president Salvador Illa, he must navigate the complex relationship between the Ajuntament de Barcelona and the regional government. While Mayor Collboni previously stated the tram plan hinges on the Catalan budget, escalating uncertainty and public pressure from opposition parties may force him to explore alternative municipal financing. This could help avoid significant delays to his agenda for the city.
For now, the future of some of Barcelona’s most transformative urban projects remains tied to the political manoeuvring in the Catalan Parliament, leaving residents and city planners awaiting a resolution.
