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Controversies and criticism
Alleged corruption scandals
Ada Colau was indicted by the Spanish judiciary in 2022 for alleged irregularities in the handing of subsidies to entities linked to her party Barcelona en Comú, including to the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages which she founded in 2009.[22][23][24] Colau faced criticism from public opinion sectors because she refused to resign from her post as mayor, despite the ethical code of conduct of the party stating that party members pledge to resign from their posts should they be indicted for corruption, embezzlement or influence peddling, among other crimes.[25][24][26] A judge later dismissed a case involving some of the charges pressed against her.[27]

In November 2022, the Provincial Court of Barcelona reopened the case against her. The writ stated that there are indications of malfeasance in the repeated handing out of subsidies to organisations linked to Colau.[28][29][30]

Accusations of nepotism
In 2022, the Ethics and Conduct Committee of the Council of Barcelona raised concerns about nepotism in the municipal institutions. The Committee produced a report in which it heavily criticised the decision to hire Alicia Ramos, partner of the Housing councillor, as an advisor to the staff of Ada Colau on grounds of a potential conflict of interest. The report also stated that Alicia Ramos was not hired following a competitive process, and that the authorities failed to provide any reasons as to why Ramos was suitable for the role.[31][32]

Colau has also been criticised for several other controversial hirings, such as that of her husband Adrià Alemany.[33][34][31]

Contrary to expectations, especially for a big capital city, Madrid is quite right-wing. It’s a stronghold of the Partido Popular (PP), which in US terms would be the establishment Republicans.

The Spanish government bureaucracy is also generally right wing, as goes its headquarters, Madrid.

Barcelona is of course socialist.