Barcelona En Comú faces the first primaries in its history

BarcelonaBarcelona En Comú is holding its first leadership primaries in its eleven-year history. Never before have two lists competed to lead the party, which faces the post-Ada Colau era with its sights set on the 2027 municipal elections and the big question mark of who its mayoral candidate will be. Until December 15, two candidates are vying to lead a party that aims to To forge alliances with the left in the city with the dream of regaining the mayoralty (a dream that, for now, faces opposition from the polls). Neither Colau nor Janet Sanz, the most visible figures in recent years, are running, nor is Gemma Tarafa, the number two in the BComú city council, who is now focused on her role as coordinator of Comuns.

What are the differences between the two proposals? The list A Shared Future It is more "official," according to sources consulted. The executive committee candidacy includes leaders who have already held top-level positions: BComú councilor and former deputy Jess González is responsible for political coordination, in addition to the current spokespeople Max Cahner and Laura Cañadas. The lists for the coordinator associated with this candidacy include deputy Susana Segovia and former deputy Enric Bárcena. Including this one, there are five lists for the coordinator, a body with around forty members, from which ten are now being elected. Of these five, two are associated with the official list and two with the alternative list—plus one that is not affiliated with either.

The alternative list is We have a common dialogueThe group draws its members from those who have held positions such as district councilors or advisors. Although some have been with the party since its inception—such as Àngels Tomàs and Mar Trallero, who would take charge of the organizational structure—they have not yet been at the forefront of politics. They claim to be able to "empower" the membership and emphasize the value of primary elections for developing new leaders. "It's a very positive exercise for training future leaders," sources from the candidacy point out.the change in leadership This has been one of the biggest problems the Comuns have had to face since Colau's departure.

The urgency of choosing a mayoral candidate

There are eight positions up for grabs on the executive committee. The lists are open: this means that the new leadership could include members from both parties (although the system rewards unified support for one party with a weighted vote). The first priority for the emerging team will be managing the mayoral primaries, scheduled between January and February 2026. Since the summer, the name Gerardo Pisarello has been circulating.Although he has not yet taken a step forward, the name arouses reservations in some sectors, who do not rule out an alternative candidacy. Bob Pop has announced that he wants to compete in this race.Some see this as a valuable media asset for the campaign, regardless of whether he ultimately becomes a mayoral candidate. The process, which concludes on December 15, also includes the selection of the new ethics and guarantees committee.

Beyond the names and their internal standing, there are no significant ideological differences between the two proposed executive committees. A key point of agreement is the need to address security in Barcelona, ​​to prevent it from becoming a battleground for the right wing. The party has begun to do so with the Orgull de Barri (Neighborhood Pride) campaign, holding events in the Eix Besòs and Nou Barris districts, where Vox is trying to gain ground. Following the summer congress, BComú has reactivated sectoral committees to strengthen a party in which veterans still identify the political background of their contemporaries—ICV, activism, or the pro-independence sector—while new members simply identify with the Comuns brand. "We'll do it again," says one of these new recruits confidently, recalling Colau's arrival as mayor in 2015.