The race for Barcelona City Hall is shaping up as a defining moment for the campaign landscape. All contenders are in place, and the Partido Popular (PP) appears to hold a unique position by being the only party to publicly reveal its candidate. Within the broader national strategy, the decision is seen as a deliberate move to consolidate influence in Catalonia, a region whose political weight the party aims to restore under the leadership’s perimeter. The candidate’s identity has been a focal topic in talks reported by regional press, with Daniel Sirera emerging as the name under consideration at a pivotal moment for the party.
The contest in the Catalan capital is viewed within the PP as a priority, given that regaining footholds in Catalonia is a central objective for party leadership. Sirera, who currently serves as chief of staff to the PP’s regional president in the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, has a multifaceted political background. He previously held seats as a Barcelona member of parliament, a regional deputy from 1995 to 2010, and a senator appointed for regional purposes. He also chaired a committee during his earlier tenure. After a brief departure from the Partido Popular between 2007 and 2008—timed with the resignation of Josep Piqué—Sirera remained a noted figure, with Alicia Sánchez-Camacho later succeeding in guiding the Catalan roster. The political path he followed includes a lengthy record of service in public life within Catalonia and beyond.
In recent configurations, the PP’s Catalan screening committee prepared an initial short list featuring prominent names such as Dolors Montserrat and Lorraine Rodan, alongside Sirera. Ultimately, the party’s national leadership, led by its president, selected Sirera as the chosen candidate. The decision signals a cohesive strategy to project a solid front in Catalonia, aligning the regional ambitions with the national imperative of reestablishing party prominence across the region. These proceedings reflect the ongoing process in which local committees present options, while the national leadership exercises final authority over candidate designation, shaping the electoral narrative for the party in Barcelona and the wider Catalan territory.