Podcast Summary: "La Entrevista | Jaume Collboni, alcalde: 'Cuando Barcelona habla, el mundo escucha'"

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy (SER Podcast)
Host: Àngels Barceló
Guest: Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona
Date: September 19, 2025

Main Theme

In this episode, Àngels Barceló interviews Jaume Collboni, the Mayor of Barcelona, in a compelling conversation focusing on the city’s cultural renaissance, bold urban policies, housing challenges, international solidarity—particularly towards Palestine—and the management of tourism and public security. Collboni passionately details efforts to recover Barcelona’s legacy as a cultural beacon, addresses global issues from the city's standpoint, and candidly discusses housing and tourism dilemmas facing Europe's most vibrant cities.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Revival of Barcelona’s Cultural Life (00:09–07:29)

• Historic Spaces Recovered: Collboni celebrates the reopening and municipal acquisition of theaters like El Molino and Teatro Capitol, preventing their conversion into commercial spaces and preserving the city's cultural DNA.
  • Quote: “Estamos empeñados en recuperar la vitalidad... del Paralelo, como el espacio de los teatros... por excelencia de Barcelona.” (00:33, Jaume Collboni)
• Record Attendance: Theater ticket sales have reached almost 3 million, showcasing strong post-pandemic cultural engagement.
• Museum Expansions: The city is doubling the exhibition space of MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) and revitalizing Montjuïc’s cultural landscape for the 2029 centenary of the Universal Exposition.
• Preservation vs. Politics: On the controversial Sigena murals, Collboni advocates for scientific, not political, criteria, underscoring expert warnings about the risks of moving them.
  • Quote: “A veces pasa, se convierten en iconos o en armas arrojadizas. Y luego cuando viene un científico y te [dice]… cuidado. Porque hay un riesgo cierto de que eso se degrade.” (04:48, Jaume Collboni)

2. Barcelona’s Literary and International Projection (05:48–07:29)

• Global Cultural Capital: Barcelona is guest city at Guadalajara International Book Fair, reinforcing ties with Latin America and celebrating its legacy as a Spanish-language publishing hub.
• Strengthening Bridges: Collboni highlights efforts to reforge cultural and editorial connections with Latin America.
  • Quote: “Vamos a desembarcar en Guadalajara... para rehacer ese puente... entre Latinoamérica, Cataluña y Barcelona.” (06:24, Jaume Collboni)

3. Position on Gaza and International Solidarity (07:29–12:38)

• Condemning the Situation in Gaza: Collboni unequivocally labels Israel’s actions as “genocide” and aligns Barcelona with the Palestinian cause, emphasizing human dignity over politics.
  • Quote: “Barcelona va a estar al lado del pueblo palestino denunciando una atrocidad que se está retransmitiendo en directo, un genocidio en directo...” (07:53, Jaume Collboni)
• Concrete Actions: The city has severed ties with Israeli institutions, bans contracts with companies linked to occupied territories, and is launching “District 11: Ciudades Palestinas” to structure humanitarian aid.
  • Quote: “Nuestro compromiso es total... Cuando la ciudad de Barcelona habla, el mundo escucha.” (09:37, Jaume Collboni)
• On Sports Boycott: Barcelona supports the exclusion of Israeli teams from international competitions, echoing the Spanish Government’s position.

4. Tourism Overload and Regulation (12:38–15:55)

• Tourism Limits: Collboni asserts the city cannot accept more tourists and outlines aggressive policies:
  • Ban on tourist apartments from 2028, returning 10,000 units to residential use.
  • Quote: “En el 28 no habrá ni una vivienda turística en Barcelona.” (13:30, Àngels Barceló)
  • Reducing cruise ship terminals from 7 to 5 to cut mass short-stay tourism.
  • Push for quality over quantity: aiming for more business, culture, and family tourism instead of sheer volume.
• Quote: “Yo defiendo el derecho a pasear de los barceloneses.” (14:24, Jaume Collboni)

5. Housing Crisis and Right to Stay (15:55–18:58)

• Housing Affordability: The mayor emphasizes his primary mission is to guarantee “el derecho a quedarse”, the right for residents to remain in their neighborhoods.
• Regulatory Actions:
  • Implementation of rent controls, with observed stabilization and slight reduction in prices.
  • Doubling production of protected housing, targeting working-class and middle-class families, not just the most vulnerable.
  • Fight at the European level: Barcelona and other cities lobby the EU for direct affordable housing funds.
  • Quote: “El problema número uno que tenemos las grandes ciudades europeas se llama acceso a la vivienda y la Unión Europea tiene que articular fondos para que podamos construir vivienda asequible.” (18:37, Jaume Collboni)

6. Security and Media Representation (18:58–20:39)

• Crime Trends: Crime rates, particularly petty theft, have been falling for 16 months. Collboni attributes this to new regional government policies.
• Media and Perception: He points out the role of hyperbole, misinformation, and political manipulation (especially by far-right groups) in shaping perceptions of insecurity.
  • Quote: “[Hay que] combatir las mentiras, las exageraciones, los vídeos estos que corren que son extemporáneos, que no tienen nada que ver, que no han pasado en tu ciudad, que no han pasado hoy sino hace dos años, etc.” (19:54, Jaume Collboni)
• Political Responsibility: Public security is a core left-wing policy, to be addressed without denial or alarmism.

7. Long-Term Vision and Leadership (20:39–21:02)

• Collboni articulates a vision beyond his current mandate, emphasizing the need for mayors to work with a long-term legacy in mind, regardless of their electoral prospects.
  • Quote: “Eso se llama construir un legado de largo recorrido y yo lo voy a disfrutar igual como barcelonés, a lo mejor si lo disfruto como alcalde, si estoy como alcalde mejor, pero si no lo estoy también lo voy a disfrutar mucho.” (20:43, Jaume Collboni)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Cuando la ciudad de Barcelona habla, el mundo escucha.” (09:37, Jaume Collboni)
• “Nuestro objetivo es garantizar el derecho a quedarse de los barceloneses en su ciudad y en su barrio.” (16:22, Jaume Collboni)
• “No vamos a dar ni una licencia más. Eso es una forma de empezar a contener la carga turística.” (13:41, Jaume Collboni)
• "Tenemos que garantizar el derecho a pasear de los barceloneses." (14:24, Jaume Collboni)
• "El problema número uno... se llama acceso a la vivienda." (18:37, Jaume Collboni)

Important Timestamps

• Recovery of theaters and cultural hubs: 00:33–02:32
• Museum expansions and MNAC debate: 02:32–04:48
• Guadalajara Book Fair/cultural outreach to Latin America: 05:48–07:29
• Support for Palestine & humanitarian district: 07:29–12:38
• Tourism policy and housing measures: 12:38–18:58
• Security and media manipulation: 18:58–20:39
• Vision for Barcelona’s future: 20:39–21:02

Conclusion

The interview offers a comprehensive insight into Jaume Collboni's project for Barcelona: a city that preserves its cultural soul, protects the right to home and dignity, asserts itself internationally, and tackles the pressures of global tourism and urban living. His approach is pragmatic yet ambitious—rooted in local identity, but always with an eye on Barcelona’s place in the world.