The municipal party All for Terrassa (TxT), led by mayor Jordi Ballart, has won the local elections for the second time. In mid-June, with ERC and Junts they staged an agreement to create a tripartite government with an absolute majority in the plenum (11 councilors from TxT, 2 from ERC and 2 from Junts). In Ballart he is seen to be happy with the local challenges ahead but worried about the key role of his party in the appointment of the presidency of the Diputació de Barcelona.
In 2017 it broke the 40 years of socialist hegemony and they have won again. What is the secret of the success of Tot per Terrassa?
We are still thinking about it a lot. When they ask us to reproduce our model, we tell them that there is no magic formula. But the essence of the project is municipalist, terracenist, pluralist, with a close and unfiltered politics.
They have made a government pact with ERC and Junts. With ERC they already ruled. Why with Juntos?
We have many challenges ahead and to deal with those who generate hatred – referring to Vox – a strong government was needed, with an absolute majority. The governing pact with ERC worked very well and with Junts’ candidate, Meritxell Lluís, we had already governed and there is trust. We will count on the PSC for important issues such as industry, in social, urban issues… and we will generate consensus.
They have committed to having the Investment Plan for the next four years in 100 days. What will be the main focuses? How does he propose reindustrialization?
We have created our own council for industrial policy, from where the master plan for industrial estates will be promoted. We have a privileged geostrategic location, at the gates of the great metropolitan region, and we have universities, research centers and the complicity of economic agents. We will promote the largest industrial estate in Catalonia, Els Bellots 2, with the aim of attracting innovative and technological companies, with quality jobs.
The commitment to more social housing continues. What model will they follow?
We proposed a great city pact on public housing that brings together the construction trade, politicians and social movements. There are different formulas and, even if it is difficult, we will guarantee 5,000 public flats over the next decade.
How will cleaning and public space improve?
We will have an investment of 120 million in improved cleaning, playgrounds, asphalting of streets and improvement of sidewalks.
And mobility, with the Low Emission Zones and downtown traffic jams?
A balance needs to be found between fighting climate change and complying with the ZBE law and not harming trade. We will follow the progressive calendar of the Metropolitan Arch. The councilor for Mobility is also the councilor for Commerce to work on strategies together. But removing vehicles from the city will not be possible if we do not have some rounds in good condition. And that’s why the B-40 is key, which for us is the North round.
There is already a protocol between the Generalitat and the State, but it expresses the political will and does not oblige the parties to comply with it. If the PP wins in the general election on July 23, will it return to the starting square?
Considering that it was signed on the first day of the electoral campaign, when we have three years of many negotiations between Terrassa, Sabadell and Castellar del Vallès with the Generalitat and the government, we are late and bad. It is necessary to resolve that the B-40 does not end at a roundabout in the north of Terrassa and is a roundabout to resolve the internal mobility of Terrassa. We want to participate in the layout, so that it has the least environmental impact. In October, when the connection with Abrera is launched, 150,000 vehicles can arrive… And it will be the collapse.
This week the Provincial Council of Barcelona will be formed and Tot Per Terrassa has the key. Where will your deputy vote for the presidency, PSC and Commons or Junts and ERC?
It is a great gift to be in the Provincial Council. In the other legislature we had a deputy and on this occasion we did not expect it at all. These days, we are talking to different groups, especially the one who won the election. Honestly, we are not interested in party structures or strategies. We want to achieve maximum commitments with our working document, with projects that will benefit Terrassa such as speeding up the new Theater Institute, improving roads of the Provincial Council, works, sports facilities…
