Junts per Barcelona has urged Mayor Jaume Collboni to address what it calls a "serious security crisis" in Barcelona, following a weekend of violence involving bladed weapons. Martí Galbis, leader of the Junts municipal group, said the mayor should "step out of his office and show the leadership the city needs" to tackle the complex situation.
Galbis criticised Collboni for what he described as a focus on "propaganda photos in prefabricated settings" while the city experiences increasing social alarm. He stated that "every weekend we hear news of knife attacks, shootings, violent fights, and criminal acts". Junts wants the mayor to explain his plans to respond to this situation, which the party attributes to "youth gangs and international mafias".
Calls for Leadership and Action
Galbis added that if Collboni is "unable to lead and provide answers to the public, he should make way for more capable people". Junts also reminded the public that the municipal plenary approved "concrete measures to address this problem". The party now demands the mayor "get to work and act in defence of coexistence in the city and against this surge in violence and crime".
Among the measures proposed by Junts, chaired by Carles Puigdemont, is to reinforce police presence in Barcelona's streets, particularly in the most affected neighbourhoods. This increased presence, according to Junts, must be "well coordinated" between the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Guardia Urbana. The party also advocates for the "strict" application of local ordinances and laws to prevent Barcelona from becoming a city where "violence with bladed and firearms is commonplace".
Broader Criticism of Government Response
Collboni is not the only figure facing criticism for his "silence" following the weekend's events in Barcelona and across Catalonia. The Popular Party (PP) has criticised the lack of reaction from the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, after two murders and other incidents were recorded over the weekend.
Santi Rodríguez, the PP's general secretary, demanded Illa appear before the Catalan Parliament to clarify the circumstances of the events and outline the measures the government plans to adopt. Rodríguez accused Illa of being "more concerned with the Flotilla than with what is happening in the neighbourhoods of Catalonia".
