The independentist cultural association Casal Antoni Sala i Pont in Badalona has filed a formal administrative lawsuit against the city council over a €901 fine imposed for hosting a calçotada, a traditional Catalan onion barbecue, in 2025. The group claims the penalty was politically motivated and cites procedural irregularities, including notices sent to incorrect addresses and a reversed legal process. The Casal states it submitted its event permit application 41 days in advance and had secured official authorisation from Ports de la Generalitat, the regional maritime authority responsible for events on or near waterways. It also says the municipal council provided favourable preliminary reports and that the local Urban Guard recorded no issues during the event.

'Political persecution' allegations grow

Despite the council later issuing a "dismissal due to factual error" of the sanction, the Casal argues this was a procedural tactic to close the case without acknowledging wrongdoing. In a public statement, spokesperson Marcel Vivet accused the administration of Mayor Xavier García Albiol of using bureaucratic repression to financially pressure groups that oppose its policies.

This is a modus operandi of bureaucratic repression to economically suffocate entities that don’t align with Albiol’s narrative.

The group traces the conflict to its support for families evicted from the former B9 Institute in Badalona, a site that became a focal point of social tension after housing around 400 migrants and vulnerable residents. The council’s eventual clearance of the B9 building in late 2025 was authorised by a judge on condition of providing appropriate social support, according to a December 2025 report by independentbadalona.cat.

Alongside the administrative case, coordinated by the legal network Alerta Solidària, the Casal is reserving the right to pursue criminal charges for prevarication and discrimination against several officials. It specifically names Deputy Mayor Daniel Gracia and municipal officers in the Public Space and District Office departments. The legal dispute unfolds amid broader scrutiny of the Albiol administration. A May 2026 report by cronicaglobal.cat highlighted internal allegations of arbitrary conduct and favouritism within the Urban Planning department, particularly concerning contracts awarded to firms like FCC and Tandem Projects. The council has not issued a public response to the Casal’s latest legal action.

Primary sources: badalona.cat. Reported by cronicaglobal.cat, independentbadalona.cat, metropoliabierta.cat, naciodigital.cat, elperiodico.cat, elpuntavui.cat, vilaweb.cat, diaridesabadell.com, elpais.com, eldiario.es, Racó Català.