Spain’s Colau will shape Catalonian left’s realignment

Subject

A profile of Barcelona’s mayor Ada Colau.

Significance

Former social movement activist Ada Colau has been Barcelona’s mayor since June 2014. She is the most influential of several radical municipal leaders in Spain engaged in new approaches to the conduct of local politics that are aimed at achieving social and cultural change. Her party, Barcelona in Common (BComu), is in the process of establishing a new left-wing party throughout Catalonia, with the aim of winning the next regional election.

Impacts

• Despite BComu’s radical programme, its coalition with the PSC is likely to remain stable.
• Colau’s European profile is set to grow thanks to her involvement with the pan-European Democracy in Europe Movement 2025.
• BComu is likely to push for the introduction of direct mayoral elections in Barcelona, which would benefit Colau.