Catalonia Today, April 6, 2006 | Barcelona, the war of the surveys

The last Barcelona city council survey before the elections claims that the controversial bylaw against antisocial behaviour has led to an increase in the popularity of Mayor Joan Clos (PSC), who had been losing support since the beginning of his mandate. The left-wing tripartite council kept Clos in his position, and if he decides to present himself as a candidate for the next elections, he will have to place his trust, once again, in his ERC and ICV partners. There are rumours in the Barcelona PSC that people are calling for a different candidate for the next elections, though formally, the party has ratified his bid. One hypothesis is that the PSC has a hidden candidate who wants to keep his head down until the campaign starts. Another possibility is that the party has allowed itself to be coerced into thinking it has no choice but to support the Mayor of the Forum as their candidate. As the municipal survey and the survey published on Monday by La Vanguardia show a recovery of Clos' popularity, the second hypothesis would seem to be the case. In any event, if Clos does run, he will be doing a favour to Xavier Trias, the opposition candidate.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 6 d'abril de 2006, pàgina 3.)