Just five years ago, the journalist Josep Maria Vallès could have imagined that in June 2023 he would be mayor of the city where he has worked for the last 30 years, at the head of Tot Sant Cugat – between 1997 and 2019 – and in other local media. Vallès joined Junts last term and although his party won the most votes, he remained as councilor in the opposition, after 32 years of government. The tripartite ERC-PSC-CUP was the left-wing bracket. Now, in a government of 25 councilors, Junts has 9 and aspires to an absolute majority with a pact with ERC. Vallès, affable and smiling, is getting used to being stopped in the street, congratulated, but also being asked for things.
In the investiture plenum, how do you rate the fact that ERC and the PSC did not present any alternative candidate for mayor and voted blank?
It is a very significant gesture and one that I appreciated just after the plenary, because it is a sign of a willingness to dialogue and seek consensus. I think it is a symptom of a small change that may occur in the government and in the mandate.
They are in the minority and want more stability. How are the negotiations with ERC going to reach a government pact?
We have spoken to all the groups, but it is true that we have had a few meetings with ERC and the talks are going well. They are the ones with whom we have the most political affinity. We started by analyzing the programs and establishing which red lines we do not want to cross and points of disagreement to find solutions. We want to continue to advance in the dialogue with the republican Bernat Picornell, it is flowing well.
I understand that there is a certain rush to announce the new government.
The government pact between Together for Sant Cugat and ERC will be imminent. The intention is to have it before the main holiday (June 28). We really want to get to work, because we have a good list of projects and several commitments with Sant Cugat. Although there is no government, as mayor I have already met with several people and organizations to streamline issues.
Let’s get into the subject of this whole list, then. During the campaign he announced that Junts wants to rethink the Green Ring. Maybe it’s not working well?
No, because many collapses are created, especially in the Four Cantons. It cannot be that an ambulance, in the middle of an emergency, cannot pass. Traders complain that there has been a 30% reduction in customers due to these traffic jams. For this reason, we propose short-term actions and others in the longer term, which will take into account businesses, schools… It is necessary to create a new mobility plan, advised by experts, with an improvement of public transport and enable more zones of dissuasive parking. We are working to build a surface parking lot near CAP Sant Cugat, we will recover it and build underground plants. If you cut a street or opt for the conversion into a pedestrian area, you must provide alternatives.
Another big issue for the city is the new future neighborhood of Ca n’Ametller, towards which Sant Cugat can grow. Will they continue the same tripartite project?
It is a big project that will have to be done in two or three terms. It is necessary to assess well how and how much Sant Cugat will grow, without losing its town essence and without anyone being left without services. For now there is no closed project and it will be necessary to define one with the new political forces and with the owners and administrations involved.
Public housing in Ca n’Ametller and the rest of the city is another challenge.
In the previous mandate, there was a lot of talk about it, but little was planned. Ca n’Ametller will have public housing, of course. But we also have land in Promusa, such as one near CAP Sant Cugat that needs to be enhanced. And explore new formulas with single-family houses, public guarantees, cooperatives…
Together they promised that if the precautionary measures of the La Mirada school were not lifted, they would look for a new location. How will they handle it?
We have already met with the director and the president of the AFA. For now, we will take care of the most urgent: the foundation for two new modules that will be installed for the following school year, create shaded areas, a sandpit and assume, from the Town Hall, the catering service of the dining room . On the other hand, regarding the precautionary measures, we are waiting on what will happen and when it will be resolved. We cannot stand idly by and we must look for possible alternatives in case it is decided that it is not possible to build in the Volpelleres forest.
