After more than nine years in Barcelona City Council –eight of them as mayor and one in the opposition–, Ada Colau He attended his last municipal plenary session this Friday. As she had announced at the beginning of September, she is leaving her position as councilor to avoid “continuing by inertia”, without ruling out the possibility of leading the Barcelona en Comú candidacy in the 2027 municipal elections. During her speech, the former mayor praised the city, has criticized the “greedy” elites and has defended his humble origins and the legacy of his Government.
Before even being able to articulate a word, loud applause resounded in the plenary. Beyond the infinite thanks, Colau He has vindicated the “bravery” of his party to carry out projects that others considered “impossible.” Among many other advances, the construction of high-quality housing has stood out. social rent, the creation of a service to stop thousands of evictionsthe superilla model that has pacified the streets, participatory budgets, the protection of school environments or the new tram sectionwhich will premiere next November 9.
According to Colau, despite the constant “smear campaigns” his Government managed to outline a “model for the city and the future” to face challenges such as tourist overcrowding, real estate speculation or pollution. “No one backed down in the face of the dirty war of the complaints and the fake news“he stressed. In this sense, the former mayor has pointed out the “mediocre elites” of Barcelona who only think about “their short-term benefit” and ignore the consequences of their “greed.”
Colau recalled his “humble” beginnings and his inexperience when he became mayor in May 2015: “Only in a city like Barcelona Incredible things like this can happen.” And, for that reason, he has stressed the need to take care of the “diversity” of the neighborhoods and to strengthen the “much-needed” neighborhood communities.
The most emotional moment of the speech came in the last minutes, with two thanks to very significant people for Colau. Firstly, she has claimed the teachings of her mother, Tina, who has accompanied her in the “most difficult moments” and has transmitted to her “the deepest love” and the strength to “pursue her dreams.” The second thank you has been to Vanesa Valiño, faithful friend and fellow activist, currently undergoing cancer treatment. “It is an example of light, love and courage,” he concluded.
The reaction of the parliamentary groups
Once Colau’s speech has finished, it was the turn of the municipal groups. The first to intervene was Jordi Martí, from Junts, who sent two messages to the former mayor. With evident harshness in his voice, the president of the parliamentary group has criticized her for “taking advantage of false information from the State sewers to harm the image of Mayor Trias.” Likewise, he has asked him, “wherever he goes, to remember that Catalonia is a nation.”
The spokesperson for the ERC municipal group, Elisenda Alamany, has acknowledged that Colau has opened “paths” and has highlighted that both share “the diagnosis” that it is necessary a policy that responds “to the new times”. For her part, the deputy spokesperson for Barcelona en Comú, Janet Sanz, has praised Colau. According to her, the former mayor has suffered “the biggest campaign of lawfare“ to destroy their city model. “Your legacy is eternal,” he declared.
Ultimately, the mayor Jaume Collboni has defended the “unique trajectory” of Ada Colau and her “capacity for work and values” in a “very complicated” social, political and economic context, beyond the “discrepancies.” Collboni has proposed giving the gold medal to the former mayor and has offered her a replica of the Barcelona City Council staff.
The harshest criticism has come from the president of the popular group, Daniel Sirera, and the president of the group of VoxGonzalo de Oro-Pulido.
#Colau #goodbye #Barcelona #City #Council #moved #smear #campaigns
