The municipal opposition has reacted harshly to the decision of the Barcelona government to cede the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys to the Church for free. The measure is part of the preparations for Pope Francis's visit to the city.
The groups Barcelona en Comú and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya accused the mayor, Jaume Collboni, of lack of transparency this Friday. Both parties consider that the operation lacks the necessary guarantees for the public treasury.
ERC demands to know the real cost of the transfer
Elisenda Alamany, spokesperson for ERC, has presented two formal requests directed at the socialist executive. The objective is to access the agreement signed with the Archbishopric of Barcelona and break down the associated expenses.
The republican formation seeks to determine what cost the City Council will finally assume for this temporary cession. They consider it essential to know if there are hidden items or economic responsibilities derived from the use of the equipment.
"We demand answers and transparency about the agreement signed with the Church" - Elisenda Alamany, spokesperson for ERC in the Barcelona City Council
The pleas urge the municipal government to provide all legal and economic documentation related to the event. The opposition warns that opacity in the management of public spaces generates distrust among citizens.
BComú accuses the mayor of gifting the stadium
Gemma Tarafa, from Barcelona en Comú, was even more forceful in her political assessment of the measure. She criticized Collboni for having acted with the support of Junts, the PP, and Vox to close the deal.
The communist leader stated that the executive has gifted the Olympic Stadium to the Archbishopric. This parliamentary alliance allows the PSC to approve key decisions without needing to negotiate with traditional progressive forces.
Both formations agree on the need to subject the management of the equipment to public scrutiny. They demand the immediate appearance of the municipal executive to clarify the terms of the transfer.
Political tension intensifies a few days before the pontiff's arrival. Critical groups maintain that the priority must be to guarantee citizen access to common goods.