Josep Santacreu leads the Va d’Empresa slate and has been elected president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce for the coming four years. The election of some representatives from the independence list Eines de País – Un pas más, which holds the third vice presidency and the presidency, extended the voting session but produced no surprises in the final result. The atmosphere remained steady as ballots were counted.
The former CEO of DKV Seguros secured 35 votes from a 58-member electorate (52 from the general vote and six from employer associations Pimec and Foment), earning enough support to assume the post. After 26 nominations, Santacreu’s tally rose to 9, while the rival candidate won 21 of the 52 seats allocated by popular vote. In total, the general assembly comprises 60 seats, with two vacancies tied to companies prepared to contribute 150,000 euros toward the chair.
The new chamber president will oversee a public commercial enterprise with an annual budget of 24.6 million euros, funded through the institution’s operations. The selection process yielded a result representing 2.8% of voters. Every company or self-employed individual headquartered in the Barcelona province had the right to vote, and the chamber holds influence in strategic organizations such as Fira, Barcelona Turisme, Consorci de la Zona Franca, and the La Caixa Foundation.
Santacreu’s victory ends a four-year term of an independence-aligned administration. The list backed by the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) surprised in 2019, and Santacreu pledged a Chamber that remains independent from external influence while restoring the reputation and relevance of the institution that may have weakened in recent years.
Santacreu’s team includes Eloi Plans (Fluidra), Martina Font (Packaging Group), and Miguel Martí (Moventia), with Xavier Comerma from Banc Sabadell taking on the role of treasurer.
Full of surprises
The ballot, opened on Monday by the electoral umpire and the Secretary of Commerce of the Generalitat, Albert Castellanos, followed the standard procedure. The outgoing vice president reminded the chamber that responsibility now lies with the new leadership. Toni Fito, representing Eines de País, spoke candidly about the process ahead.
This election featured two lists running between 15 September and 20 September. Va d’Empresa, led by Santacreu, secured the majority, while Eines de País, backed by the ANC, is connected to the current government. The final tally stood at 26 seats for Va d’Empresa and 21 for Eines de País. The voting bloc consisted of company representatives aligned with the candidacies, reflecting consistency in the votes. Monica Roca handed over the flag to Josep Santacreu, symbolizing the transfer of leadership.
The session ran longer than planned due to the need for a larger number of votes requested by members of the independence slate. Among those votes, Roser Xalbarder held the third vice presidency position and competed with newly elected Miquel Martí. Other seats were allocated to supporters of Eines, including Toni Fitó and Gabriel Jené, who remains first vice president.
The process, scheduled for 11:00, did not begin until the second call at 11:30, allowing time for independence delegates to participate. Officials stated publicly that participants were nearby and ready to vote when needed. [Source attribution: Barcelona Chamber of Commerce records]