Pilar Malla, a reference in the fight against poverty, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 95. Malla was the first ombudswoman of Barcelona, a former member of parliament, and former director of Caritas Diocesana in the Catalan capital. Caritas remembers her as a person who worked "intensely" to make the reality of poverty visible and to promote social responses that would "contribute to people's autonomy." "Charity, helping others, means love. And love is to love others as yourself. If you love others as yourself, do for others what you would want for yourself," Malla stated.

There is now a popular verdict. The Barcelona City Council made public this Wednesday at noon the results of the citizen votes to choose the future ombudsman of the Catalan capital, in which 2,707 people participated. David Bondia won with 2,064 votes (76%), ahead of Gemma Calvet, who obtained 643 (24%). Regarding entity adhesions, Bondia had the endorsement of 25 (81%) and Calvet that of six (19%).

Gemma Calvet (Barcelona, 1966) has a long career as a lawyer specializing in human rights. For ten years director of the AMB's Transparency office, she also served as a member of Parliament for a time. Now she aims to be the new ombudsman of Barcelona. A race she considers unequal because her adversary, David Bondia, continues to serve as ombudsman in the meantime.