Barcelona is a difficult and closely observed patient. It often visits the doctor and constantly relapses. Although it also has an enormous energy that makes it capable of overcoming the hardest blows.
Miquel Molina, deputy director of La Vanguardia and an attentive analyst of the city, has undertaken the task of analyzing the situation we are in and proposing ideas to give it new momentum. The result takes the form of a warning to sailors: "Alerta Barcelona. Adiós a la ciudad autocomplaciente" (Libros de Vanguardia).
What is "Alerta Barcelona"?
It is an attempt to evaluate the city's situation after a series of circumstances that have altered its usual rhythm. Political conflict, last year's attacks, a very strong economic crisis… I have gone back in time to look for a whole series of decisions that lead us to believe that the city has a problem with driving ideas to move it forward.
Is there a lack of a city project?
Yes, there is a lack of a model. The model that this city has lived by since the Olympic Games has been eroding, partly due to a lack of interest from everyone. There was a time when this city worked so well that it seemed to us that there was no need to think about how to diversify, how to bet on new sectors… It has been a joint responsibility, of all political parties and of a society that has lowered its level of demand. To the point that in the debate we have experienced lately with the independence process, Barcelona has ceased to appear as a political subject and has remained too subordinate to the positions of one side and the other.
What do you think are the main challenges for the city right now?
This city urgently needs to start the machine for producing good news. We have suffered significant damage to our reputation for different reasons (political conflict, degradation of coexistence, etc.) And that, in a city that is closely observed, amplifies the effect. So we have to try to sell the things we do well, which are many, and try to be less defensive and try to look for new opportunities. With the Brexit issue, we are seeing that there are many cities, like Paris, that are moving a lot to capture everything that can be expelled from the United Kingdom. And another important aspect is to determine which sectors to bet on. There are sectors, such as technology, music or books, that deserve a firm commitment.
In your book, you advocate for culture as the main driving force of the city model.
I believe there can be no other model. Barcelona is nothing more than culture, if we understand culture in a broad sense, which can encompass the system of educational excellence (both public and private), the world of scientific research, etc. The commitment, obviously, is budgetary. But there is also a commitment of political determination, to bring culture to the forefront. And now we are not up to the task. We must also use culture to achieve higher quality tourism.
What do you think will happen to the companies that have left?
I am pessimistic. I believe it could have a negative or very negative effect on Barcelona, depending on how we manage to compensate for it. It is very unlikely that companies will return with the current climate of political instability. Companies want tranquility and predictability. And what we have to do is compensate for this departure with the incorporation of new actors. It is difficult, because any company that wants to make investments in Barcelona wonders why local ones have left. But we are seeing that there are sectors, such as technology, where this seems to be less relevant. The great risk Barcelona runs is that companies that have moved their tax headquarters will eventually leave their company here in the hands of delegates. And that Barcelona becomes a city of territorial delegates. When you need sponsorship for an opera or you need an advertising investment in your media, it is much easier to discuss it with the company president than with a delegate. The city runs the risk of being devalued.