Barcelona's city council has confirmed David Bondia for a second term as Síndic de Barcelona, extending his mandate as the city's ombudsman for another five years. The decision, made during a plenary session, received broad political support; only the Partido Popular (PP) abstained, while Vox voted against. Bondia has held the position since September 2021, when the city selected him through its previous appointment process. Recognized for his work in human rights and legal expertise, he is due to serve until 2031. The next appointment is set to coincide with municipal elections.
The reappointment followed a competitive selection process in which Bondia faced jurist Gemma Calvet. Bondia received 2,064 individual endorsements and backing from 25 organizations, while Calvet secured 643 individual votes and support from six entities. Most council members praised Bondia's previous work, though the session also exposed ongoing disagreements about the ombudsman's role and the selection process. Earlier coverage presented Bondia as willing to address contentious civic issues, a stance that continues to inform debate about the office's remit and accountability.
First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet expressed confidence in Bondia's commitment to defending citizens' rights. Junts' Jordi Martí supported the reappointment but called for greater accountability from the Síndic. Marc Serra of Barcelona en Comú highlighted the need for a bold ombudsman, while ERC's Rosa Suriñach described Bondia's project as solid and deserving of continued support. In contrast, PP's Sonia Devesa argued for more civil society involvement in the selection process and criticized the current appointment system. Vox's Gonzalo de Oro Pulido questioned the institution's necessity, calling it a duplication of existing ombudsman roles and criticizing its budget allocation.
After the vote, Bondia said he would seek more resources to increase the office's impact and rejected criticism from PP and Vox, stressing the value of the participatory process. He noted that regular meetings with Vox representatives continue behind closed doors despite the party's public opposition.
The selection process included a public voting phase on the digital platform decidim.barcelona, open to residents over 16 and registered organizations. Physical voting points were set up across all ten city districts. Bondia's first term focused on mediating major city disputes, including the Casa Orsola eviction case, and raising concerns about homelessness and strained social services. He also highlighted delays in municipal registration procedures. His current agenda addresses housing as a broader social-rights issue: in October 2026, he proposed that housing-sector organizations work together to acquire the Bloc Papallona in Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample. He has called for increased public-housing investment. He also wants better management of the municipal housing stock and faster rehabilitation of buildings with structural problems in Besòs, Maresme and Trinitat Vella. Discussing the issue, Bondia said that without housing there are no social rights.
Beyond his local role, Bondia is president of the Alianza Global del Ombudsperson Local (AGOL). He has previously led the Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya (IDHC) and the Catalan Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MCPT). He has also participated in international missions with the European Union and AECID, as well as with the Council of Europe and the United Nations Development Programme. Bondia is a tenured professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Barcelona.
Ombudsman institutions such as the Síndic de Barcelona mediate between citizens and local authorities, addressing complaints while promoting transparency. In Spain, local and regional ombudsmen operate alongside the national Defensor del Pueblo, sometimes prompting debate over overlapping responsibilities. Barcelona's participatory selection process reflects efforts to involve residents in local governance. The recent council session showed that questions about these institutions' scope and funding remain contentious, as does their independence.
