Opposition Blames Leadership Amid Summer Crises
Jordi Martí, lead candidate for Junts in the 2027 Barcelona municipal elections, has accused Mayor Jaume Collboni of abandoning the city during a challenging August marked by extreme heat, a major fire in Collserola, and ongoing disruption from a metro construction sinkhole. Martí, who actively participated in local festivals and community events across Sants and Gràcia, said residents faced recurring insecurity, including fights, knife attacks, shootings and ram-raid robberies, with insufficient municipal response.
We have suffered a very complicated month in which there has been hardly any municipal response.
He pointed to the 54-hectare wildfire in the Collserola natural park above Nou Barris, which began on 25 August and prompted activation of the Municipal Action Plan (PAM), later downgraded to alert status after being stabilised. According to Bombers de Barcelona, the fire affected areas in both Nou Barris and Montcada i Reixac before being declared extinguished on 31 August.
Closed Shelters and Ongoing Displacement
Martí also raised concerns about climate shelters, claiming a third were closed during August. Official data shows over 350 climate shelters are available citywide under the summer Heat Plan, running until 15 September. These include libraries, civic centres, parks and sports facilities, such as the Putxet Sports Centre. However, library hours may vary due to staff holidays or industrial action; the council advises checking opening times online before visiting. Separately, he highlighted the situation in Sant Gervasi-la Bonanova, where around 20 families remain displaced due to a sinkhole caused by metro works. Some residents learned they will not return home until at least early 2027, while those who have returned complain of persistent noise and pollution from repair machinery. Martí urged Collboni to prioritise local issues over international engagements:
It's all very well for him to undertake international cooperation trips, but he cannot ignore the real problems of Barcelona.
Primary sources: barcelona.cat, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by lavanguardia.com, barcelonapress.com, ACN, elperiodico.com, catalannews.com, beteve.cat, en.ara.cat, La Vanguardia Barcelona.
