Fira 2000's board of directors meets today with the intention of approving a change in the general direction. At the proposal of the Department of Economy of the Generalitat, which is the first shareholder with approximately 51%, the appointment of David Poudevida to replace Joaquim Ferrer will be discussed. A change that has raised controversy due to the haste with which it has been proposed and without consulting the other partners, particularly the city councils of Barcelona and l'Hospitalet, as established by the tradition of institutional consensus around the Fira.
The two city councils and the Diputació de Barcelona were weighing yesterday the possibility of voting against or at least abstaining in the council meeting, in which the Generalitat has a majority. "Let's hope that the Generalitat reconsiders because it would not be good for the director to start without institutional consensus," said Jordi Martí, sixth deputy mayor of Barcelona City Council. The partners of Fira 2000 also include the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and the Chamber of Commerce.
The controversy transcends the municipal spheres, since there is also a debate within the Generalitat itself, while Pau Relat, president of the Fira's board of directors, has privately expressed his discomfort, according to sources consulted by this newspaper.
The municipal institutions value the work of Joaquim Ferrer, who stands out for his dialogue spirit, his transparent management and the effectiveness he has shown at the start of the new expansion of the Gran Via site, particularly with the agreement reached for the demolition of the building from Porcelanosa.
David Poudevida is considered a person close to the president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras. His last position was that of Government delegate in Argentina and he had previously been director of marketing for Bon Preu. Fira 2000 is a public limited company whose objective is to carry out the expansion and improvement works of the Fira
