We have allowed a 'low cost' airport model, a tourism model, and a city model to be imposed on us."

We meet Ernest Maragall at the Pier 01 building of Tech Barcelona, one of the emblems of the city's technological and digital ecosystem. We go up to the building's rooftop, from where the entire Barcelona seafront can be seen. Maragall, with a mischievous look and a restless gesture, places his hands above his eyes like a visor as he observes the entire coastline. The sun is intense. He surveys all the buildings and blurts out: "The best piece of Barcelona, its seafront, is expropriated by the State."

--- What is Ernest Maragall's Barcelona?

--- Barcelona, city of knowledge.

--- And what does this mean?

--- The concept gives character to the city. And in several senses. We must control, deploy, multiply, and convert our productive model into a definition. It must be a factor for increasing social cohesion, reducing inequalities, adding value, and increasing salaries. But based on decisions we must make. Some have been started, but they must be carried through to their ultimate consequences. We must choose what we want to be a reference in. What can Barcelona be a reference in?

--- Do you have the answer?

--- This must be answered from the collective subject that is Barcelona. Now we must get used to making decisions and doing so from a dual exercise: assuming the risk that public leadership entails and, at the same time, with the complicity of the social, cultural, scientific reality, etc. We must define priorities and opportunities to become a European and global reference hub.

--- Let's be specific: in which fields can Barcelona excel?

--- In several. In bioengineering, in smart mobility, or in audiovisuals, for example. In all those fields of the economy where a degree of innovation and technological development is required. Barcelona can be a reference in social and technological innovation.

--- And what does it lack to be so?

--- It lacks public leadership, determination to reach broad agreements and, above all, knowing how to draw a clear, powerful, and well-connected ecosystem. What does the Clínic plus the Parc Científic mean? What does the Ciutadella del Coneixement plus the Hospital del Mar mean? What does the Audiovisual Hub in the Tres Xemeneies mean? What does Vall d'Hebron plus Sant Pau mean? From the Barcelona City Council, we must contribute to leading these synergies. Add definition and risk.

"Barcelona can be a reference in social and technological innovation"

--- We must define the priorities that will then become projects. And, in addition, there is another essential element: we must not limit ourselves to the municipal area of Barcelona. We have become accustomed to being competitive individually when we should get used to being super-productive together and for this to be a multiplying factor.

--- Whenever collaboration is discussed in Barcelona, it is accompanied by the adjective public-private. You have not said it.

--- We must go further. I spoke of an alliance between the city and the country, between the City Council and the Generalitat. Until now, we have become accustomed to considering them as two parallel or even contradictory powers. What I propose is that we go together. The first synergy to build is between the city and the country. And, therefore, also with the municipalities of the Metropolitan Area. In terms of transport, infrastructure, investments, etc.

"The first synergy to build is between the city and the country. And, therefore, also with the municipalities of the Metropolitan Area"

--- The time when events generated dependence has passed. Now events are part of normality. They must also be part of this definition of priorities and options.

--- Is tourism a priority?

--- Yes, but we must govern it. We must cultivate it, transform it, and qualify it. Barcelona must assert itself. We must stop being low cost. We have allowed a model of airport, a model of tourism, and a low cost city model to be imposed on us. We must turn the page.

--- Does your airport model have a third runway?

--- The technicians must tell us this. That is the least of it. Now we have the opportunity, thanks to the initiative of the Government of the Generalitat, to look at everything with a much greater degree of freedom. We are not criticizing, accepting, rejecting, or qualifying a proposal. We are in a position to make a new one. Now that everyone has had their say, let's put it on the table and, as an intelligent and mature society, decide which solution, in terms of cost-benefit, is the most beneficial.

--- Another basic infrastructure: the port. It is often said that it lives with its back to the city.

--- The port is a fundamental piece for the city. In the port there are many lands that are not for port use and that give rise to debates such as that of the Hermitage, that of the Liceu and others. Therefore, the city must be able to intervene in these areas as much as possible. The Port already has projects and has a plan, but we cannot simply remain as spectators. We must get involved, since the economic, social and cultural life of Barcelona also passes through its port. However, here we must take into account another issue: the seafront, that is, the entire facade in front of the port. From Morrot to Ciutadella Park we have a city kidnapped by state buildings.

--- Walls?

--- Walls that are the Customs buildings, the Post Office, the Government delegation, the Captaincy, the Military Government, etc. What use does all this have now? The best part of the city, its seafront, is expropriated by the State. What in other places would be one of the wonders of attraction, activity or culture is almost empty. How many people work in these hundreds of thousands of square meters? And what work do they do? Control the country? Let them control it from a screen in La Moncloa. This is a great project for the city and it cannot be kidnapped by the State.

"The best piece of the city, its seafront, is expropriated by the State"

--- Well, we must start much earlier. The first talent retention should be from home. Instead of expelling it, we should be able to give opportunities to the talent we already have. And this involves a triple concept of what it means to be a city: training, occupation, and housing. And it also requires continuous investment in public space urban planning. Many people came to live in Barcelona because it made a qualitative leap: it recovered the sea, generated high-quality public space, etc. We must continue creating a city.

--- Access to housing is a problem not only for retaining talent, but for a large part of Barcelona's citizens. What is your plan?

--- We solve it through land policies. We have a strong housing program to regain the normal pace of 5,000 homes per year, 20,000 over the entire term, and of these, 8,000 protected. And, in addition, we should add this creative urban planning to see what other endowment lands make sense to imagine, promote, and build.

--- One last question: if Ernest Maragall is mayor, what will he do in his first 100 days in office?

--- The first thing I will do is change the city's climate. I will act as a meteorologist to say: "The discouragement is over, the self-flagellation is over, the lamentation is over, the fear is over, the distrust is over. We are entering a new climate of construction, ambition, transformation, shared horizon, leadership, and complicity."

"The first thing I will do is change the city's climate. I will act as a meteorologist to say: The discouragement is over"

--- The identification of big issues that it has subsequently not been able to resolve.

--- Of Jaume Collboni?

--- Skillful.

--- Of Xavier Trias?

--- He is a good person.