He faced fierce opposition from business associations, delivery drivers, and some residents who feared gridlock. In countless interviews, Maristany deployed his engineering calm. He would pull out data showing that 60% of public space was dedicated to cars, which moved only 20% of the population. His argument was simple: this is not an aesthetic choice; it is a mathematical and public health necessity.
As Barcelona prepares for future challenges—from the expansion of El Prat airport to the climate crisis—Jaime Maristany remains a central figure. Whether he succeeds or fails, the city’s evolution will bear the unmistakable imprint of the engineer who believes that the street, like the home, is a fundamental right. jaime maristany
Currently serving as the President of and a key figure in the Barcelona en Comú party, Maristany has his hands on the two levers that define urban quality of life: how people move and where they live. From Engineering to Activism Unlike many career politicians who study law or political science, Maristany’s foundation is in civil engineering. He specialized in transport infrastructure, a technical background that deeply informs his political approach. Before entering the high-stakes arena of city politics, he worked in the public sector and as an activist in Barcelona en Comú , the left-wing platform that won city hall in 2015 under Ada Colau. His argument was simple: this is not an
In the complex ecosystem of Barcelona’s city government, where political coalitions often blend ideological activism with technical governance, Jaime Maristany stands out as a distinctive figure. A civil engineer by training and a politician by conviction, Maristany has become one of the most influential—and occasionally controversial—voices in the city’s transformation over the last half-decade. Currently serving as the President of and a
He has controversially suggested that large infrastructure projects (like metro extensions) must be paired with "anti-speculation agreements" to ensure that new stations don’t simply drive up land prices and displace existing communities. Maristany is not without his detractors. Opposition parties, particularly the center-right Junts per Catalunya and the liberal Ciutadans, accuse him of "urbanism of prohibition"—using the superblock to punish drivers rather than improve mobility. They point to traffic snarls in the Eixample and argue that his policies hurt local delivery businesses and taxi drivers.