Radical mayors are taking control of major cities through a tidal wave of citizen organizing that has spread across Spain and is rippling out across Europe and beyond.
Barcelona is the most high-profile and ambitious rebel city of the lot. Citizen platform Barcelona en Comú won control of the city in 2015, putting feminist housing-activist Ada Colau into city hall as Mayor. The coalition operates through peoples’ assemblies and has committed to full transparency, in an attempt to do away with the corrupt politics of the main parties. Their politics hinge around the right to the city, promoting social and solidarity economics, expanding the commons, re-municipalizing water and energy supplies, and opening doors to migrants.
