Local leaders demand action on court construction

Mayor Josep Maria Vallès of Junts, alongside Míriam Nogueras, the party’s spokesperson in Spain’s Congress, has again criticised the PSC-led Catalan government for failing to allocate funds for the construction of a dedicated judicial complex in Sant Cugat. The criticism comes after the 2026 draft budgets from the Generalitat did not include provisions for building the courthouse, despite the legal creation of a separate judicial district for Sant Cugat being approved by Spain’s Congress on 19 December 2024 (Sala de Premsa Sant Cugat). Vallès stressed that the new district, long demanded due to Rubí’s overcrowded courts, is essential for a city with nearly 100,000 residents and a significant business sector. He cited an official study commissioned by the city council and conducted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), which recommends a total of 15 judges for optimal operation.

15 judges needed, says UAB study

According to the UAB report, presented in March 2026, the ideal setup includes a unified civil and investigative section with 12 judges: seven for civil cases, two for investigations, and one each for gender violence, youth violence, and family capacity issues (Cugat Mèdia). An additional judge each would be shared with Rubí for criminal and social law, and one more for administrative disputes shared across the Baix Vallès region.

"Now the ball is in the Generalitat’s court. We’ve done our part,"

said Vallès, referring to the lack of budget allocation despite repeated local efforts.

Fiscal policy and other stalled projects raised

Nogueras echoed Vallès’ concerns, stating that Junts had secured the legislative groundwork quickly in Madrid, but progress has stalled under both the Sánchez and Illa administrations. She also criticised national fiscal policy, claiming Spain ranks third in Europe for tax increases, contrasting it with reductions in countries like Ireland and Denmark. Additionally, the pair highlighted other unresolved infrastructure projects in Sant Cugat, including the undergrounding of regional rail lines and the construction of a day hospital, both pending decisions from the Catalan executive.

Primary sources: premsa.santcugat.cat, Cugat Mèdia, cugat.cat. Reported by totsantcugat.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, TOT Sant Cugat, elperiodico.com, diarideterrassa.com, regio7.cat, elpuntavui.cat, naciodigital.cat.