After 16 years of mayors of the convergent space, the Movem-PSC coalition has brought about change in Tortosa. Jordi Jordan, member of En Comú Podem al Parlament, history teacher and seasoned politician despite his age (40 years old), is the new mayor thanks to the support of the three ERC councilors, to whom he will cede the mayorship on ‘last year and a half, and of the only councilor of the CUP, who will be outside the government. The opposition will be led by Meritxell Roigé, to a single councilor of the absolute majority.
With what mentality do you face the challenge of leading this change?
With great excitement and desire, and at the same time with a great sense of responsibility for what it means to be mayor of a city like Tortosa and for the excitement of so many people who want change. I want to rule for everyone, not just for Tortosa. I want to make a quiet change, move on everything that can be improved, but keep everything that is good. Politicians don’t have to live forever, my goal is to be in the mayor’s office for two terms to be able to promote the modernization of Tortosa and change.
What are your priorities?
We must open housing, it is a necessity for young people. The bet for the walls and the old town is very important, we have a great opportunity. Trade in the center needs to be boosted, we want it with much more life. Also the expansion of the Catalunya Sud estate, which I led from Parliament. Young people tell me that they leave Tortosa because they don’t feel welcome; we have to make an attractive city for them. And we must open the city to the river because the Ebro is our reason for being. The city must start looking at the river.
In the midst of a historic drought, must the city lead more than ever in the defense of the Ebro River?
Tortosa must lead the defense of the river, I will do it mani qui mani in Barcelona and Madrid. The drought tells us that water is a precious commodity and we must bet on the new water culture. Climate change is a reality.
The plenum of his investiture was very tense. How do you plan to lower the tension?
Governing for everyone regardless of who voted for me. I want to be everyone’s mayor. And it is important to reach out to the opposition groups; I ask them to take responsibility for making a constructive opposition, not a nervous one.
Tortosa has a huge potential that has not been exploited?
One of the subjects we have pending is to make ourselves known much more in Catalonia and the rest of the State. When they visit us they are surprised. We have to turn the view that we were a very important city, in a negative way, and turn it into an opportunity. We lack projection.
The Franco monument continues in the middle of the Ebro river. What will he do now as mayor?
We are waiting for the court decision because it depends on justice and we are also waiting for the historical memory law. When it is resolved, if it finally ends up indicating that it is withdrawn, what we need to do is to have an interpretation center in Tortosa where we can tell the story of the Battle of the Ebro and take advantage of the main parts of the monument, convert the positive for the democratic memory and the external image of the city. If the Generalitat ends up withdrawing it, which is the competent administration, we will demand to build a footbridge, the historic boat bridge.
Why is it such a taboo subject?
It did not withdraw at the end of the dictatorship and there is a part of society that has normalized it. A part of Tortoise society has not understood the debate, it has been seen as an imposition from the outside. If he had retired after the dictatorship he would have been understood much more than after so many years, laws and changes.
Does it hurt that some outsiders think that Tortosa is an undemocratic city?
It is unfair; in the last municipal, general and Catalan elections, the majority of Tortosians voted for left-wing and progressive forces. They are trying to turn us into a right-wing, conservative city. Today’s reality has nothing to do with Tortosa 30 or 40 years ago.
He has claimed the stewardship of the Terres de l’Ebre. Should Tortosa push the cart?
It is a historical, economic and social reality. From Catalonia and the State there is a double aspect: more and more sensitivity towards the south but also distance. There is a lot of work to be done.
Why are they claiming a new hospital for Tortosa?
The current one is outdated. We want to be a first-class territory, with a modern hospital. And it is essential to attract health personnel. We will do everything possible for the Generalitat to promote it; you don’t build a hospital in a year or two. We will demand that it be built.
