Mayor Jaume Collboni will propose to his future partner in government that he assume a hypothetical mayorship at night. The socialist party said yesterday in an interview on the TVE program Cafè d’idees that it is well prepared to establish this figure during this mandate, that it is one of the commitments it acquired in the last electoral campaign, which it expects that his future partner in government give him the necessary support, who in return is fully prepared to cede the position to him…
“The new city government will have a night mayor – assured Mayor Collboni during the TVE interview. So far we have not been able to establish it because we do not have the necessary number of councillors. The appointment of the night mayor will depend on the government pact we establish. We are ready to hand over this position to whoever it corresponds to…”. Yes, Collboni’s proposal seems quite sibylline, a way of exchanging the much-needed support at the municipal meetings in exchange for a meager sacrifice. Municipal budgets in good condition are worth a night mayor, maybe even two.
Collboni puts this letter on the table when the negotiations on the governance of the city cannot be delayed any longer and must be reactivated as soon as possible so that they bear fruit before spring, so that the City Council has budgets that do not mortgage no project noted. And the truth is that the socialist’s offer yesterday did nothing but make the leaders of the Junts, BComú and ERC municipal groups frown. None of them see it clearly, at least not timely.
For years, the figure of the mayor has been roaming Plaça Sant Jaume at night. The Republican candidate Ernest Maragall brought it to his electoral program in a prominent place in the elections of 2019 and 2023. The idea is to facilitate the coordination of the city and its administration during the nights, especially in terms of nighttime leisure and the culture But the truth is that this measure, which has been working for years in cities such as Paris, London and New York, has never taken any decisive steps in Barcelona.
“In the previous commissions we already asked for a night governance office – answered shortly afterwards sources from the Junts municipal group -. It is not indifferent that at the head of this office there is a mayor, a delegate or a director. What worries us is safety and coexistence during the nights. But our conversations about the governability of Barcelona are not yet at this point. First it would be necessary to reach a government pact, and then negotiate a distribution of portfolios. And we are by no means at that point.”
The response of BComú, the former partners of the Socialists, was even harsher. Janet Sanz, spokesperson for this group, believes that Collboni’s proposal aims to divert the debate on the government pact and hide the weakness of its executive. “Now we have to talk about the governance of the city and not make headlines to hide the fragility of a government in the minority, without a budget, without ordinances or a model”.
And the republicans celebrate that Collboni is taking into account a measure that they have always supported, but at no time do they imply that they are ready to leave the opposition and be part of a progressive government. “The mayor at night is a successful figure in many cities – spoke the president of the ERC group, Elisenda Alamany-. It shows that our recipes are what the city needs”.
