Barcelona (EFE) the Neighborhood Plan if the Socialists lead the next municipal government.
Rabell participated in the 2015 Catalan elections as head of the list of Catalunya Sí Que Es Pot, a candidacy that brought together ICV, EUiA, Podem and independent profiles like him, who came from neighborhood activism and was characterized by opposing the unilateral path towards independence undertaken by Junts pel Sí.
With the incorporation of Rabell, who in recent times had been moving closer to the socialist space, Collboni intends to bring together a part of the electorate of the commons that may feel dissatisfied with the management of the mayoress Ada Colau.
At the press conference to present his signing, Collboni explained that they have been united by “a political and personal relationship for more than twelve years”, when Rabell led the Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Barcelona.
If he achieves his goal of being mayor, his plans include placing Rabell as deputy mayor of the Neighborhood Plan and Citizen Participation, in a commitment to the “fight against inequalities”, social cohesion and attention to “more vulnerable”.
Precisely the social policies in the neighborhoods will be one of its priorities, explained Collboni, who hopes to “double” the budget for this purpose, also raising the rank of the person in charge of the Neighborhood Plan and placing “the most appropriate person” there.
Collboni believes that the signing of Rabell is “a clear sign of the progressive orientation” of the government he wishes to lead.
“It is time to overcome twelve years of disenchantment in the city under the worst valued leadership in the history of Barcelona,” said Collboni, who praised the federalist “coherence” of Rabell, who in 2017 held a position of greater ” rejection» of the ‘procés’ than other leaders of the commons.
Rabell: Colau’s stage belongs to the past
For his part, Rabell has pointed out that the governments of Colau “have played a certain role” in the city, by picking up in 2015 the “revolt of the neighborhoods” after the management of the previous mayor, Xavier Trias, and by avoiding in 2019 that Barcelona City Council “fell into the hands of a pro-independence force” like ERC.
Now, all this “belongs to the past”, stressed Rabell, who has highlighted the “responsibility” of the PSC during this time.
Among the reasons that have led him to say “yes” to Collboni’s invitation to his list -which number has not yet been defined-, he has highlighted the commitment to promote the Neighborhood Plan.
The commons are not surprised by the signing
For the spokesman for En Comú Podem in Parliament, David Cid, the fact that Rabell is on the socialist list “is no surprise, he has been in the orbit of the PSC for a long time and in the previous campaign he already supported this party” .
Cid has placed the signing of Rabell as a “look to the past” and has pointed out that “there is only one force that looks to the future, which is that of Barcelona en Comú” led by Colau.