More than 400,000 voters in the Barcelona area face a pivotal election. Business representatives and self-employed workers must still cast their ballots by Wednesday the 20th. In Barcelona, turnout has historically been modest; in 2019 only about 4% of the eligible population voted, roughly 19,000 people, a figure that had already doubled the turnout from earlier cycles.
Electronic voting began on Friday and continues into Monday. Voting by power of attorney to natural persons is prohibited until 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Wednesday marks the day for in-person electronic voting, with results expected to be announced as the day ends.
The election affects 13 Catalan chambers overall, with the fiercest contest in Barcelona where the ballot is the largest. Other interests span Terrassa and Manresa for certain seats and overlaps in titles held there.
In Barcelona, two main contenders are competing for the presidency over the next four years. The Santacreu ticket, led by the former CEO of DKV, Josep Santacreu, campaigns under the slogan, “I am going to work,” and enjoys support from groups like the ANC and Eines de Pais. The incumbent leadership, under the banner of One Country, currently holds the reins after the 2019 vote. Monica Roca presides at present.
Across the slate, there are 108 candidates in total. Santacreu’s cartel—running through a private foundation focused on disability—fields candidates for 46 of the 52 available seats. Key participants include Energy Factor, represented by Emili Rousaud, who also sits as a vice president of Pimec; La Farga Copper Solutions associated with the Guixa family; Ficosa; House of Ametles; Komsa led by the Miarnau family; Colonial; Saba; and others. Olivier Contel, head of Elite Taxi, is also listed, with a public appeal to mobilize members to vote.
Six other candidates run as independents and back Santacreu, according to sources. Among them are Bon Preu, Marta Gento representing pharmacists, Layetana Hotel Promotion, Bank Sabadell, and Gerard Esteva of Online Gymis, president of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (Ufec). This alliance could push Santacreu’s side toward fifty-one seats in their favor.
On the opposing side, ‘Eines de País—Un pas més’ fields 51 candidates for the 52 seats. Unlike his rival, this slate has not named a presumptive president, though speculation centers on Mònica Roca, who is running for the post, and could be confirmed in a second term. Other names mentioned include Isardsat; Toni Fito, the former Pere Quart subsidiary; and Joan Canadall, a former leader of the organization in its early years and currently linked to Ictineu Submarins. The ticket also features politically active figures such as Canadall, and veteran names like Joan Puigcercos, Ada Parellada, and Ernest Pérez Mas, all aligned with the ANC’s pro-independence stance. The platform is explicitly separatist, with strong backing from the ANC.
There are also six independent candidates who have not declared support for either major slate. Prospective contenders include Prosper Puig, a bacon producer who chairs Barcelona Comerç; representatives from Càmping Campalans; Kreedit Innova; Nuclio Digital School; Micfootball; and Iglú Hotel Management.
Santacreu has argued that the rival platform does not reflect the chamber’s original purpose, which is to offer services and represent all companies. He contends that the chamber’s prestige and relevance have diminished, and he aims to restore its standing. He also notes that the current situation is unprecedented and surprising to many observers.
Conversely, Eines de País—Un pas més—presents itself as a consciously pro-independence force. Dolors Feliu, president of the ANC, stated in June that the chamber should be a tool for pursuing independence. Monica Roca has echoed the call for a unifying platform and the potential establishment of a separate state as a guiding objective for their members.
In addition to the 52 seats in the plenary elected by universal suffrage, eight seats have already been allocated, bringing the total to 60. The distribution includes two seats reserved for contributions of 150,000 euros per mandate and six seats allocated to employers, leaving some positions open.
By contrast with 2019, the two major groups, Foment and Pimec, agreed to split six seats evenly. The allocations include Anna Cornado of Copy as a representative of Foment, Ignasi Marull of PwC as a managing partner, Eloi Plans of Fluid as chief executive, and Emma Gumbert of Pimec along with Martina Font of Font Packaging Group and Miguel Martí of Moventia in leadership roles on the other side.
Foment, led by Josep Sánchez Llibre, has not publicly endorsed any single candidacy. Pimec has drawn similar lines, though both groups have ties to the Va d’Empresa coalition that includes energy, copper, and cable manufacturers. Independent candidates also appear on the slate, including Eines de País and Bon Preu, while other companies collaborate with partners such as Saba and Ficosa through the lobby network. Parlem is mentioned on the Eines de País side, while Bon Preu represents a more independent path.