The placid political mandate in the eighth Catalan city, crisis aside, has allowed the municipal government to focus on the future of Mataró's urban and social transformation. The executive of David Bote (PSC), which faces the third electoral call, has been able to maintain a stable majority of 15 councilors (13 socialists) thanks to the pact with En Comú Podem, which has made it possible to project, almost without political obstacles, the metamorphosis of the city.
One of the unknowns in the capital of the Maresme is whether Bote will be able to maintain the majority to govern or whether he will not overcome the wear and tear that entails governance itself and the management of issues of great social impact, such as the increase in crime or illegal occupations of homes. Public safety is the first problem highlighted by the Mataronians in the face of a government subjected to intense attack from social networks.
It is noteworthy that one of the promoters of these groups, extremely critical of the government's management, Patrulla Vecinal, a former member of Vox, is running in the elections as number two of a PP that is trying to regain representation in the Town hall. In the capital of the Maresme, up to 11 candidates are presented in these elections, which gives an idea of the dispersion of votes that can be there.
The political variety entails an analysis of complex electoral reading, with data such as the return to the political arena of the ex-convergent and former councilor for Culture, Joaquim Fernández, leading the Mataró Ens Mou-Ara Pacte Local formation, which could further weaken his old party, now transformed into Junts, with only two councillors.
Also noteworthy is the return of Mónica Lora to the head of Vox to try to regain representation or the irruption of Valents and the National Front in the electoral arena. In this sense, the change of leadership on the ERC list, now the second largest with eight councillors, will be key.
Guanyi qui guanyi, Mataró has a well-established roadmap through the agreed Local Action Plan 20-30, a document drawn up by experts, neighborhood activists and politicians that provides 28 projects for change. The transformation involves the reconversion of social care with projects linked to artificial intelligence, such as the Gavius project, which allows vulnerable families to be detected and assisted more quickly, a system that is part of the city's grand design intelligent
Urban growth and the lack of affordable housing are other fundamental points of these elections. The study and possible modification of the urban plan that will regulate the new housing developments planned for the coastal front is in the final phase. Equally noteworthy is the achievement of social housing through programs such as Yes we rent, in which apartment owners agree on an affordable rent with the City Council through a cooperative.
If the lack of accessible housing is one of the common problems in all large cities, it is more urgent in Mataró due to the high number of occupations. That is why the local government has led several initiatives against the occupation in Spain. The change in legislation and the creation of an exclusive local police unit against home invasions has made it possible to thwart 500 occupations.
Public safety is the main problem for 50% of Matarón residents, according to surveys. For the next mandate, an increase in the police force and a strategy for the deployment of video surveillance cameras are planned.
Mobility is another electoral key. The lack of parking and the controversial bike lane come up in all the debates, as does cleanliness, which has been strengthened during this mandate. Also the "problems associated with immigration", highlighted aspects in the Dibarometer survey, despite the fact that the arrival of foreign citizens in Mataró has stagnated.
