Palestine sparks the first plenary session of the year at Barcelona City Hall
The Catalan capital reaffirms its opposition to companies that violate international law being present at the Fira.
BarcelonaThe Israeli siege of Palestine was the focus of the first plenary session of the year at Barcelona City Hall this Friday. A plenary session that began and ended with debates on the city's response to the massacre in Gaza, and which also saw some heated exchanges, with heated exchanges between councilors. A plenary session in which the municipal government's commitment to turning Palestinian cities into the District XI, and in which the municipal government has been asked again to prevent the presence of Israeli arms companies, as well as companies "that violate international law", in congresses and fairs held at Fira de Barcelona.
It was in a proposal by Barcelona en Comú that wanted to go deeper into the one approved by the plenary session in May by break off relations with Israel "until respect for international law and international humanitarian law are restored, and respect for the basic rights of the Palestinian people is guaranteed." "We are concerned that this agreement is not being implemented," said Janet Sanz, leader of the Commons at City Hall, who has called on the municipal government to act to "prevent the presence of Israel and companies that support the genocidal state" at conferences such as The District, Smart City Congress, or Mobile.
The proposal, approved with the votes of the PSC, BComú, and ERC, also urges Jaume Collboni's executive to "take all necessary measures to prevent" "sports teams identified under the name of the State of Israel" from participating in the 2026 Tour de France, as well as to withdraw municipal support for "or athletes under the name, with financing, or representing the State of Israel."
From the municipal government, the second deputy mayor, Maria Eugenia Gay, has argued that it is essential for the city to act with "firmness and clarity" to prevent "spaces where Barcelona has responsibility from being used as showcases by those who violate international law." ERC councilor Rosa Suriñach, for her part, has argued that boycotting companies "is not a mistake, but rather a moral obligation in the face of genocide and the violation of international law."
The boycott's limited usefulness was, in fact, the argument with which Neus Munté (Junts) defended her group's abstention. She argued that diplomatic pressure must be used because the boycott has "zero" impact on the resolution of the conflict and, "instead, could lead to significant losses" for Barcelona.
Hit by the Flotilla
The debate escalated with the intervention of Vox, which disparaged the Flotilla and went so far as to claim that the State had sent a military ship so that Councilor Jordi Coronas—who, along with former mayor Ada Colau, is part of the humanitarian mission—"could continue his vacation." This statement sparked angry protests from Elisenda Alamany and Janet Sanz, to whom the Vox leader in the council, Gonzalo de Oro Pulido, responded by accusing her of being "rude."
In fact, throughout the session, a sign supporting the Flotilla was displayed on the seat Coronas should have occupied. Barcelona en Comú councilors also carried signs denouncing "the genocidal State of Israel" and calling for participation in the October 4 demonstration in Barcelona.
- Adherence to the National Pact for Language<p>The Barcelona plenary session has approved joining the National Language Pact. It did so with the votes in favor of the PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), Barcelona en Comú (Barcelona en Comú), and Esquerra (Ecuadorian Left), while Junts (Junts), PP (People's Party), and Vox (Vox) voted against. "We must ensure that more Barcelona residents can speak, feel, and live in their language within this rich and diverse city that we share," said Mayor Jaume Collboni, who argued that "greater social use of Catalan also implies greater social cohesion."</p>
- The opposition demands the transfer of the Bruc Barracks<p>A proposal from the council members was also approved with the votes of Junts, BComú, and ERC, urging the municipal government to "formally demand" from the Spanish government the "immediate and free transfer" of ownership of the Bruc barracks to the council. The text demands that the City Council "commit to allocating this space to the construction of affordable rental housing and community-interest facilities that contribute to improving the quality of life of the citizens of Barcelona." Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay stated that the municipal government cannot accept the proposal because it falls outside its jurisdiction and could "generate expectations."</p>
- Shock plan in the Marina del Port<p>A PP proposal was also approved, calling on the municipal government to implement a "shock plan" for the Marina del Port neighborhood. The text, approved unanimously, calls for this plan to include the "permanent presence" of the Guardia Urbana (Urban Guard) and the installation of video surveillance cameras. The text also calls for "strengthening coordination" with the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police), with officers permanently stationed in the neighborhood to ensure security. It also proposes installing video surveillance cameras in the "most problematic" streets and squares, reinforcing the cleaning and maintenance of gardens, closing them at night, and "making progress in the eradication of illegal settlements" by "intensifying police surveillance and preventive control."</p>