The departure of Xavier Trias, winner of the May 28 elections, left a leadership void in Junts per Barcelona. Following his non-investiture as mayor on June 17, 2023, Trias fulfilled his promise to resign as councilor in the July 2024 plenary session, initiating a complex process to find his successor.
“"To hell with all of you."
The search for a new mayoral candidate has been hampered by a combination of factors. On one hand, internal tensions have led to a battle between figures such as Jordi Martí Galbis, considered Trias's political heir, and Josep Rius, spokesperson for Junts per Catalunya and councilor in Barcelona, who has the support of the party's apparatus. Other names like Victòria Alsina, Damià Calvet, or Ramon Tremosa have failed to consolidate as consensus options.
On the other hand, the evolution of the Catalan political context, especially the application of the amnesty law and the potential return of Carles Puigdemont, has had a decisive impact. The leadership of Junts has chosen to postpone the decision, awaiting the resolution of the general political scenario, as a prematurely designated candidate could become outdated by the movements of the president in exile.
The party has also explored external options, sounding out figures such as former president Artur Mas or businessman Tatxo Benet, without success. Even Joaquim Forn, a candidate in 2019, rejected the offer to lead the list. This situation contrasts with other major parties in Barcelona, which already have their candidates defined for 2027, such as Elisenda Alamany (ERC), Gerardo Pisarello (Comuns), Jaume Collboni (PSC), and Daniel Sirera (PP).
