Congressman Gerardo Pisarello announced his candidacy on Saturday for the Barcelona en Comú primaries to lead the 2027 municipal list. Supported by Ada Colau and Ernest Urtasun, he aims to become Barcelona's first migrant-origin mayor. The announcement comes amid internal tensions and potential competition from Bob Pop.
Gerardo Pisarello, a congressman and former Barcelona en Comú councilor, presented his candidacy on Saturday, December 20, 2025, for the party's primaries to lead the 2027 municipal list. The event took place at the Ca l’Isidret civic center in the Sant Martí district, supported by former mayor Ada Colau and Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun.
Of Latin American origin, Pisarello stated: “I want to be the first mayor of Barcelona of migrant origin, proudly Catalan, Latin American, and in love with Montserrat Roig, Maria Mercè Marsal, and the young Yammine Lamal.” In his speech, he criticized current mayor Jaume Collboni for falling short, lacking ambition, being complacent with the powerful, and unable to build progressive majorities. He appealed to the precarious and those unable to afford rent, saying: “It cannot be that being a neighbor of Barcelona has become a privilege.”
The candidate advocated for a broad left front, with alliances among unions, businesses, and parties, and stressed the need for a transformative program: “We don't just want broad defensive fronts against fascism, but also a program of real transformations for people. Without a bold program, there is disappointment with democracy, which feeds the far right.” He assured that he would include communicator Bob Pop in his campaign, despite Pop's announced intention to compete in the primaries.
Colau, who governed with Pisarello as her 'number two,' described him as “a person Barcelona needs” and called to recover the 2015 momentum. Urtasun backed the vision of putting people first. The primaries regulations, approved on Friday, allow positions one and two to choose three through five, while six through 15 will be decided by open vote. Pisarello will announce his tandem with a woman in January.
The party faces internal unease, including the absence of Janet Sanz and Jessica Albiach from the event, and concerns over demobilization after delays in defining candidacies.
