Barcelona is at the centre of a wider local government shake-up across Catalonia, with 92 of the region's 947 municipalities changing mayor during the current term. That is 9.7% of the total, according to data from the Government of Catalonia, as reported by Europa Press.
The changes have not affected Barcelona city or the other provincial capitals, Tarragona, Lleida and Girona. But several places in the Barcelona metropolitan area have seen new mayors, including L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
The main reasons vary. Pre-arranged power-sharing deals account for 25 cases, while 15 mayors were removed through no-confidence motions, sometimes involving councillors from their own parties. More than 30 others resigned for personal reasons, including family matters, work opportunities or health issues.
Political appointments to the Generalitat also played a major role. Salvador Illa, leader of the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), made a series of appointments that affected 11 senior officials who had previously been mayors. They left town halls to take up ministerial or other roles in the Catalan government.
Among the Barcelona area cases, Núria Marín stepped down as mayor of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and was replaced by David Quirós. Eva Menor was succeeded by Josep Martínez in Badia del Vallès before becoming Minister for Equality and Feminism, while Núria Parlon handed over the mayoralty of Santa Coloma de Gramenet to Mireia González before becoming Minister for Interior and Public Security.
Other changes came through no-confidence motions and resignations. In Puigverd de Lleida, Josep Solsona of Junts was replaced by Úrsula Barrufet in July 2024 after a no-confidence vote. In Ribera d'Ondara, there were four mayoral changes during the term, while other cases included Setcases, Espinelves and La Floresta. The article also notes the deaths in office of Jaume Montfort in Bellcaire d'Urgell and Joan Pagès in Viloví d'Onyar.
Some departures were tied to new political roles. José Ignacio Aparicio, Imma Ferret, Lluís Mijoler, Jordi Viñas and Abigail Garrido all moved on to parliamentary or Senate posts. Marc Puigtió resigned from Sant Julià de Ramis to stand as an ERC candidate in Girona in the 2027 elections, while Joan Roig of Alcanar said the strain of repeated flood emergencies had taken a toll. In Tiurana, Àngel Villarte was succeeded by his son, Genís Villarte, both of Junts. For more local coverage, see our Community and Sport pages.
