Barcelona en Comú Sets Sights on Reclaiming Popular Neighborhoods for 2027 Elections
Barcelona, March 28, 2026 – Barcelona en Comú (BComú) is gearing up for the 2027 municipal elections with a strategic shift aimed at reconnecting with working-class neighborhoods. The party’s new executive committee is focusing on the Eix Besòs area, encompassing parts of Sant Andreu, Sant Martí, and Nou Barris, to counter a projected decline in votes and present itself as a viable alternative to the PSC.
A New Leadership and a Renewed Focus
The upcoming elections will mark a significant change for BComú, as it will be the first time the party presents a mayoral candidate other than Ada Colau. Gerardo Pisarello, a Member of Congress and former first deputy mayor, secured the candidacy after winning the primaries against comedian Bob Pop. His running mate, Carol Recio, a city councilor with strong ties to neighborhood movements in Nou Barris, is expected to play a crucial role in reaching out to these communities.
According to sources within the party’s leadership, this strategy is designed to reverse the trend seen in recent elections. In 2015, BComú emerged as the most voted force in the three districts of Eix Besòs, securing nearly 30% of the votes and paving the way for Colau’s mayoral victory. However, the PSC gained ground, winning Nou Barris in 2019 and subsequently reclaiming Sant Martí and Sant Andreu in 2023, where they garnered over 20% of the vote.
Addressing the Cost of Living and Housing Crisis
BComú plans to center its discourse around the escalating “precariousness” and the rising cost of living, issues they believe are severely impacting Barcelona residents and fueling the rise of the far-right, especially in popular neighborhoods. While housing has historically been the party’s primary banner, stemming from its close association with the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH), the focus is now expanding.
Following the example of Comuns in the Catalan Parliament, BComú has brought forward proposals such as prohibiting speculative housing sales and regulating seasonal rental prices. Now, the party intends to add public transport and the cost of the shopping basket to its core agenda.
“Republican April” Campaign and Internal Reorganization
After Easter, BComú will launch a new campaign under the slogan “Republican April.” This initiative will include a door-to-door outreach effort in Eix Besòs, slated to begin with an event on April 11. Prior to this, the party’s executive will present a new image for BComú and an action plan for mobilization at an extraordinary plenary session scheduled for April 8.
Pisarello’s continued presence in Madrid as a Member of Congress is not seen as a hindrance but rather as a strategic advantage. Party sources believe this position offers a platform to reach voters who are more attuned to national politics and who might lean towards the socialist ballot due to Pedro Sánchez rather than a strong conviction in Jaume Collboni.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Electoral List
The integration of this new discourse with Pisarello’s profile is a key challenge. The mayoral candidate has advocated for a broad left-wing front in the city to confront the “reactionary wave,” engaging in discussions with PSC, ERC, CUP, and social movements. However, these efforts have yet to materialize into concrete proposals.
Another point of uncertainty revolves around BComú’s electoral list for 2027. Pisarello and Recio have the authority to choose candidates for positions 3, 4, and 5, following an internal “listening process” to identify suitable profiles. For positions 6 to 15, internal regulations mandate a new primary election process.
During the last plenary session, some militants expressed concerns about the list, inquiring whether individuals currently working in the municipal group or from Bob Pop’s candidacy would be included. While such requests have been raised before, sources indicate that the plenary proceeded constructively, with no internal conflict. This was the first time Pisarello and Recio addressed the plenary since their election as candidates with 69% of the support.
A prevailing concern among some sectors is that, in the absence of a viable electoral alliance with other left-wing parties in the city, Pisarello might opt to recruit independent figures to build a broad front, rather than drawing solely from the party’s existing talent pool. However, executive sources confirm that discussions regarding the remainder of the list will not take place until the end of the year.
Source: https://es.ara.cat/politica/barcelona-comu-quiere-recuperar-barrios-populares_1_5692721.html
