Badalona Mayor Xavier García Albiol (PP) announced on Friday that six members of the ERC youth organisation were caught by the Guardia Urbana (local police) allegedly spray-painting public areas in Badalona. The mayor stated that some of the graffiti included messages against him and in support of ETA.
Albiol shared images of the vandalism on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting phrases such as "Gora ETA" (Long live ETA) and "Albiol, the manipulator of Badalona". He specifically named the spokesperson for ERC's youth wing among the accused. The mayor criticised the alleged actions, saying, "This is how they want the city, destroying it."
Allegations and Political Context
The alleged perpetrators were reportedly caught by local police officers in the early hours of the morning. Albiol claims they damaged "urban furniture on the city's promenade". He also addressed the two ERC councillors, stating, "I hope the two sad ERC councillors have a minimum of dignity and shame and, as today marks the start of the city's festivities, they do not show their faces."
Albiol also reminded the public that ERC had governed Badalona in recent years. His PP party currently holds a strong majority in the city council with 18 out of 27 councillors, a result of the 2023 municipal elections. The opposition is fragmented, consisting of PSC (4 councillors), ERC (2), Comuns (2), and Guanyem (1).
Badalona, alongside Castelldefels, both in the province of Barcelona, are the two largest municipalities in Catalonia governed by the Popular Party. The mayor's comments come as Badalona begins its local festivities, adding a political layer to the accusations of vandalism.
