Barcelona to host Spanish regional presidents' conference tomorrow amid deep political divisions

Barcelona will host the Spanish regional presidents' conference this Friday, the highest-level cooperation forum for the leaders of Spain's autonomous communities. 

The meeting will be chaired by Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and attended by King Felipe VI, along with the presidents of all 17 autonomous regions. 

However, the conference comes at a time of sharp political polarization in Spain and the meeting has already sparked controversy.

In recent days, the conservative People's Party has hinted that its 11 regional presidents may boycott the event.

Given that the PP governs 11 of Spain’s 17 regions, such a move would significantly weaken the legitimacy and scope of the gathering. 

In a bid to avoid a boycott, the ruling Socialists have agreed to include all of the PP’s proposed topics on the agenda.

Among the key issues raised by the PP are tighter border controls and immigration policy, the rise in illegal squatting, judicial reform, and the contentious issue of debt relief for autonomous communities — particularly the cancellation of Catalonia’s debt. 

The eleven PP regional presidents have agreed on a common position regarding the eight agenda items they have raised, the Catalan News Agency (ACN) confirmed on Thursday, after it was first reported by El Mundo.

On the topic of a singular financing model for Catalonia, the PP proposes to reverse the "fragmentation of the Tax Agency" which, they say, violates "essential constitutional principles and values ​​such as equality, solidarity and justice."

The PP will also voice their opposition to the agreement on immigration reached between the Spanish government and pro-independence Junts.

They will propose that the conference approve a text "in support of the current constitutional framework, recognizing the exclusive competence of the state in matters of border control and immigration, as a guarantee of security, legal equality and efficiency in crisis management."

The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, warned that she will leave the presidents' conference during interventions made in Basque or Catalan.

"Either they tell me in Spanish, or I'll leave," she told the Madrid Assembly on Thursday.

The Spanish government has enabled the use of simultaneous translation at this presidents' meeting for the first time.

Housing policy

Meanwhile, the Socialist government plans to bring housing policy to the forefront of the discussion.

PM Sánchez is expected to propose the creation of a new State Housing Agreement for 2026–2030.

The plan includes increasing investment in public housing from €2.3 billion to €7 billion, along with a commitment to permanently expand the stock of public housing. 

Sánchez has called on regional presidents to engage in a "calm and constructive" debate on housing.

Similarly, Catalan president Salvador Illa - one of the few Socialist leaders heading an autonomous community - has urged conservatives to engage in meaningful debate rather than simply "creating noise."

On the topic of Catalonia's debt cancellation, he affirmed that he will discuss it with fellow regional presidents, stating he is "firmly convinced" of the need to improve Catalonia’s financing system.

Illa emphasized that he is willing to debate "anything with anyone," but that his priority will be addressing the issue of housing.

As housing is a shared responsibility between the national and regional governments, consensus at the conference will be essential for any meaningful progress on this front. 

Nevertheless, expectations for a breakthrough are low. PP leaders are reportedly approaching the meeting with a confrontational stance, and the atmosphere is likely to be far from conducive to negotiation.