The stage that Jaume Collboni is preparing to open is based on the idea of an orderly city, which works. Under this premise, he has reorganized the executive structure with new senior positions spread over seven major areas. And he also wants it to represent a change with respect to some policies promoted in the previous mandate from which the socialists gradually distanced themselves, such as the super-villas or the green axes of the Eixample, which will not be extended, contrary to what the his predecessor, Ada Colau. Based on all this, the mayor made public his technical organizational chart yesterday, in which Maria Buhigas stands out, chief architect replacing Xavier Matilla, promoter of the urban policy of the previous mayor since 2019.
There is another important appointment in Collboni's desire for Barcelona to run exactly like clockwork in areas that affect the everyday life of citizens. This is Oriol Altisench, former dean of the College of Road Engineering, who already worked in the area of Mobility - the current first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, promoted him - and coordinated the project tramway connection via Diagonal. He is the chief engineer, a figure that has not existed since the mayoralty of Joan Clos and that is now recovering. Such sensitive issues as mobility, energy, water, waste and even data will pass through his table.
A number of new senior technical positions are for people who already held managerial positions, especially in departments controlled by the Socialists, some with a long career at City Hall. Above them all stands Albert Dalmau, the municipal manager, appointed on Saturday just after the investiture session at the same time as the four deputy mayors. Until now, I was in charge of the area of Economy and Economic Promotion, which Laia Claverol takes over, who was previously in charge of Social Rights, Global Justice, Feminism and LGBTI. Agustí Abelaira will continue in the Resources area, which adds Digital Transformation. Joan Cambronero, who was the manager of the Eixample, will deal with Urban Planning and Housing, replacing in the latter area Javier Buron, who was one of Colau's first stellar signings. Xavier, previous manager of Agenda 2030, Digital Transition and Sports, becomes the manager of Mobility, Infrastructure and Urban Services, an area that was headed by Manuel Valdés. Social Rights, Health and Community includes Marta Clari, who was the Culture manager. Sara Jaurrieta, who led the District of les Corts, moves to Culture, Education and Sports. Maite Casado is in Security, Prevention and Coexistence.
The announcement of the new structure was made just after the first meeting of the Government commission of this mandate. Laia Bonet had to explain the agreement in an informative appearance in the Gothic gallery of the Great House. But it was Collboni himself who explained it, solemnly, in the Saló de Cent, accompanied by Bonet, Dalmau, Buhigas and Altisench.
It is not usual for this kind of appointment to be presented in such a formal way. Thus, Collboni wanted to give them maximum notoriety. "The house must start from the foundations", said the mayor, who highlighted the work of the officials who make it possible for the machinery of the City Council not to stop even though there has been a change of government The batlle reiterated that the objective is to recover the way of doing things from the stages of the previous socialist mayors, who were guided by "solvency in management, essential to solve day-to-day problems but also to tackle projects of city we have planned". The priorities are known and he listed them again: “Having the city tidy so that it is safe, clean and even beautiful; ensure prosperity with economic growth and job creation; protect public services, which guarantee social cohesion; to be benchmarks in quality and innovation to improve the lives of citizens...". And, regarding the appointments of Buhigas and Altisench, he once again remembered the Barcelona of 1992 and those who made it possible. "We are the children of the Games, of that generation", he stated to affirm that the new urban transformations he wants to promote in the Sagrera, the Marina del Prat Vermell, the new 22@ or with the coverage of the rounds go much further beyond physical changes.
Chief architect Buhigas was an independent ERC councilor in the previous term. She was called to be in charge of the Urbanism area in case Ernest Maragall had been mayor in 2019. But that was not the case. He continued in the post for just over a year and returned to his professional activity. When asked if his election is a nod to the Republicans with a view to future collaboration and even incorporation into the government, Collboni replied that all the incorporations he has made are "from the Barcelona party, looking work capacity and not cards". And this serves for future signings in the technical structure, but also for the government, open to other forces in the medium term, especially in BComú. "All those who want to join the military will be welcome", he said. For the time being, the paperwork will be completed next week with the distribution of portfolios among the four socialist councilors who do not yet have one and possible commissioners.
