Barcelona en Comú's code of ethics will leave the door open for Colau to be a candidate.

BarcelonaTerm limits have been a common topic of controversy within Barcelona en Comú. A debate the party hopes to resolve now with the update of its code of ethics, which will no longer refer to a maximum of three terms as it has up to now, but instead establish a limit of 12 years. This nuance aims to help clarify a rule that became confusing when councilors did not complete their four-year term—some started mid-term and some left early—but which also opens a window in case Ada Colau wants to run again.

Until now, the former mayor has said that returning to active politics is not part of her plans, but her influence over the party remains undeniable. To the point that no one dares to completely rule out a final attempt to regain the mayoralty of the Catalan capital, which Barcelona en Comú's new code of ethics would allow. Colau left City Hall a year ago after a decade on the council. With the new limitation, he could still lead the list and serve two more years. Half a term.

However, this is not the main scenario Barcelona en Comú is currently working on. After a period of analysis of the 2023 electoral defeat, the party aims to regain its capacity for mobilization, lead a broad front that includes social movements and even other parties, and regain strength in working-class neighborhoods where it has lost momentum in recent years. It also aims to leave behind the era of "hyperleaderships" and articulate others that are "more developed and shared."

The party's interpretation is stark. "Hyperleadership is your main strength, but also your main weakness," they argue. Therefore, the regulations for a primary that does not seek a single candidate but a tandem to head the party's list are being finalized. The goal is to have the procedure ready by the end of the year so it can be launched in early 2026. However, the date on which these primaries should be resolved has not yet been set.

The top spots on the list

For now, the first names have already begun to emerge. The news reports place Gerardo Pisarello among the candidates to lead the show, but in recent days, writer and communicator Roberto Enríquez Higueras, known as Bob Pop, has announced that he wants to run in the primaries and be the Comú candidate for mayor of Barcelona. To do so, he will have to find a woman to partner with in the primaries.

This is one of the requirements for the party's primaries, which stipulate that candidates must be present on a ticket and that at least one of the two candidates must be a woman. The party, which was surprised by Bob Pop's public announcement, welcomes anyone who wants to enter politics in a difficult context like the current one, and emphasizes that any Barcelona en Comú supporter can run in the party's primaries.