I no longer live in Barcelona since my departure from City Council in 2021 and my return to Paris. But I don’t forget my roots, the city where I was born, that of my father, the painter Xavier Valls, and where I lived for three wonderful years. I am also married to Susana Gallardo, a Barcelona native who loves her city.
I led an exciting campaign in 2019 and have nothing but good memories of this unique experience in Europe, that of a former French Prime Minister returning to his hometown.
My decision to prevent the election of a separatist mayor in June 2019, without any conditions, remains an act that everyone still remembers today.
Some did not understand it at the time because it broke with a way of doing politics.
I am delighted that four years later other political forces have taken the same decision. The announcement of a Trias-Maragall government, a real provocation, threatened to make Barcelona an independence platform without ensuring public policies capable of facing the challenges of the Catalan capital. It is useless to accuse the so-called hidden powers of the State. Nobody asked me to act in one way or another.
The Junts-ERC agreement demonstrated the will to once again impose an independenceist reading of constitutionalism. Therefore, we should not be surprised by the reaction of the commons and the center-right.
The People’s Party has taken a difficult decision with just a few weeks to go before the general elections, but a brave and intelligent one, and one that puts the general interest ahead of partisan interests. I remain convinced that the great constitutionalist and pro-European parties must regain their strength to join the essentials to ensure the future of Spain, which cannot depend on left-wing or right-wing populists. And even less of the separatist parties.
In life it is important to leave a legacy. I had the opportunity to assume the highest responsibilities in France. But as far as Barcelona is concerned, I am proud to have left a mark, that of a free man who believes that politics must favor the general interest.
