CUP and Comunistes de Catalunya have formalized an alliance to contest Barcelona’s 2027 municipal elections, aiming to restore a strong anticapitalist presence on the city council. After months of joint work and several weeks of negotiation, the parties agreed to build a broad-based “popular unity” list open to other organizations and social movements, with room for independent candidates. The coalition’s name and leading figures will be announced after the summer.
The alliance describes itself as municipalist and anticapitalist, and backs Catalan sovereignty and independence. Its stated goal is to challenge the current city model. CUP and Comunistes de Catalunya share a critical view of Barcelona’s trajectory, pointing to a housing emergency and rising touristification. They also cite real estate speculation, which is gradually displacing working-class residents from traditional neighborhoods. Housing costs add weight to the debate: figures attributed to INCASÒL and Barcelona City Council show the city’s average rent rising from €1,087.23 in the first quarter of 2025 to €1,137.35 in the first quarter of 2026, a 4.6% increase. Average rent per square metre rose 4.32%, from €16.19 to €16.89, over the same period.
The project’s first public step will be the Municipalist Popular Assembly, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at La Violeta de Gràcia. The event is intended to open the process to neighborhood associations and trade unions, alongside grassroots collectives and social movements. CUP representatives say the initiative is meant to bring together many perspectives. They also say the coalition’s name will not be a barrier if changing it helps attract new partners.
The move reflects a strategic shift within Barcelona’s alternative left. CUP has not held seats on the city council since 2015, when it won three councillors, and failed to regain representation in 2019 and 2023. In 2023, it fell short of the 5% electoral threshold required to enter the council, prompting the party to seek a broader base ahead of the next contest. The new approach aims to compete in a fragmented political environment. Barcelona en Comú has identified Gerardo Pisarello as its mayoral candidate, while ERC and PSC also have established candidates. The alliance criticizes the administration led by Jaume Collboni, accusing it of consolidating a city model that favors property and finance, as well as tourism interests. It promises a credible, combative alternative representing working-class residents.
Housing and tourism policy are likely to remain basic campaign issues. In June 2024, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that Barcelona would not renew the licences of its 10,101 licensed tourist-use flats when they expire in November 2028. The phase-out sets a future deadline, rather than ending existing licences immediately. The policy has drawn criticism from municipal opposition politician Daniel Sirera, who argued that ending the licences would not necessarily reduce visitor numbers or resolve the housing shortage: “The problem is not tourist apartments. The problem is that housing is not being built.”
The project will continue to develop over the coming months. An official launch and endorsements from political organizations and individuals are expected after the summer. The alliance is taking shape as Catalonia’s left-wing field undergoes impressive changes, including recent shifts in parliamentary representation. The rise of far-right parties in the region has also been documented, with recent polling showing Aliança Catalana and Vox nearing 30% of seats in the Catalan Parliament. This context adds urgency to CUP and Comunistes de Catalunya’s efforts to rebuild a unified leftist front in Barcelona.
Barcelona’s municipal elections are a focal point for broader political trends in Catalonia. The city’s governance directly affects housing and urban development, along with social policy, making the 2027 vote particularly impressive for residents. The alliance’s ability to attract additional groups and present a cohesive alternative is likely to shape the campaign and influence the city’s future direction.
