The People's Party (PP) in Barcelona is set to open its first municipal office in the Nou Barris district in June, according to party leader Daniel Sirera. The new space, located on Passeig de Valldaura, will function as a citizen attention office for local residents and a territorial base for Sirera's group.
Sirera told El Periódico that the party has observed residents in these neighbourhoods feel neglected by the city council. He believes the new office will help by providing an accessible space where people can voice their daily concerns. The move comes a year before the municipal elections, with the PP already in campaign mode.
Nou Barris has historically been a stronghold for the left in Barcelona, particularly the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC). However, the PP sees an opportunity for growth in the area. Recent election results show an increase in support for the party in a district where its presence was previously limited.
Growing Support in Nou Barris
In the 2023 municipal elections, the PP secured 10.79% of the votes in Nou Barris, a notable rise from 6.72% in 2019. This figure is similar to the party's performance in 2011, when, under Alberto Fernández Díaz, it achieved its best result in Barcelona City Council with nine councillors and around 10% of the vote in the district. Sirera aims to surpass this mark.
While electoral behaviour varies between different types of elections, a key data point fuels the PP's confidence. In the 2024 Catalan elections, the PP's support in Nou Barris rose to approximately 14%, making it the second strongest force, behind only the PSC. The party now hopes to translate some of this growth into municipal votes, challenging the Socialists in an area where Mayor Jaume Collboni (PSC) holds a dominant position. They also aim to persuade abstentionists to support them.
The new office will be open for several hours daily and will include a suggestion box and a WhatsApp number for direct contact. The municipal group intends for the office to be more than just a party headquarters or an internal meeting space. It will act as a local antenna, allowing residents to speak directly with councillors and enabling the PP to identify neighbourhood issues before developing them into city council initiatives.
Proximity and Public Image
This focus on proximity is a key part of the operation and a political priority for Sirera. He champions direct engagement with residents as a main policy since joining the council, acknowledging his group only has four councillors. Those close to him summarise the goal: to ensure the PP is not seen as an “elite party,” as they believe it may have been perceived in recent years, but rather as a “street party” with a stable presence in neighbourhoods and the ability to listen directly to residents. This strategy extends beyond districts where the party has historically performed well, such as Sarrià-Sant Gervasi or Les Corts.
The timing of this move is also strategic, as the PP believes it can gain an advantage over other right-wing and conservative parties. Junts has not yet officially named its candidate, although the leadership favours Josep Rius. Vox is also uncertain about its mayoral candidate and is looking for a replacement for Gonzalo de Oro-Pulido. Aliança Catalana still lacks a candidate in Barcelona after a planned presentation for Sant Jordi fell through. Sirera, however, is confirmed to lead the PP list in Barcelona again, allowing him to start a territorial implementation campaign earlier. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the PP president, is expected to announce the candidacies for provincial capitals over the summer, confirming Sirera as the mayoral candidate, as El Periódico previously reported.
Internal Dynamics and Future Plans
Polls, however, suggest a cautious interpretation. A GESOP survey for El Periódico in September 2025 placed the PP at 8.2% of the votes, predicting between three and four councillors, similar to their current four. Internally, the PP has more recent surveys suggesting they could double these results. A year remains until the elections.
This step also provides autonomy to the municipal group. Sirera is known for not frequently visiting the PP of Catalonia's headquarters on Carrer d'Urgell. His work focuses on the city council and direct public engagement, in line with his direct relationship with Feijóo. The national leadership in Génova has approved the initiative. However, according to PP sources, the Catalan PP leadership was not consulted, as it does not interfere with the municipal councillor's roadmap. These sources state that there has long been independence between the Catalan and Barcelona provincial PP leadership and the municipal structure. The office's costs are covered by the municipal group, which has the autonomy to promote it.
The operation aligns with Sirera's strategy to establish a distinct, more personal profile, less dependent on the PP brand. This approach mirrors that of mayors like Xavier García Albiol in Badalona or Manu Reyes in Castelldefels. Since regaining its own group in Barcelona City Council in 2023, the PP has tried to gain visibility in neighbourhoods where it traditionally did not set the agenda. It presents itself as an opposition party focused on taxation, combating illegal occupation, and street safety. Regarding safety, a topic that has gained public attention due to recent violent incidents in Barcelona, the PP has launched the “Barrios Seguros” (Safe Neighbourhoods) campaign. This involves setting up marquees in all ten districts to act as “mobile police stations” to address residents' safety concerns. Sirera intends to apply this same logic of street-level presence to the new Nou Barris headquarters starting in June.
