Ada Colau fifth-most influential person in Europe according to ‘Politico’

Barcelona (CNA).- Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau has been ranked fifth in the 28 most influential people list for 2017, made by ‘Politico’. According to this renowned publication, Colau is a “popular, outspoken and independent leader” who represents “the swing vote” and whose influence “is likely to only grow”. However, ‘Politico’ emphasises that Colau “remains stubbornly vague” regarding her position towards Catalonia’s independence, which according to the publication is “the hottest issue in the region”. Hers is a position which “may be hard to maintain” as the debate in Catalonia “heats up”, writes ‘Politico’. London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, tops the ranking and other personalities such as Turkey’s President, Recept Tayyip Erdogan and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, are also amongst the list.

‘Politico’ sees Colau as one of the people who will “shape, shake and stir Europe” in 2017. Before becoming Barcelona’s first female mayor, the magazine reminds its readers that Colau “was an anti-eviction activist famous for facing down banks, even if that meant being carried out of their offices by the police”. In office, the article reports, “she made headlines by fining banks that refused to rent out vacant properties, promised to rein in what she describes as an out-of-control influx of tourists, and angered monarchists by removing a bust of the king from the city hall’s council chambers”.

A “vague” position regarding Catalonia’s independence

The newspaper emphasised that Colau “remains stubbornly vague” regarding Catalonia’s independence, which is described in the article as “the hottest issue in the region”. ‘Politico’ also recalls that in the symbolic vote on independence held on the 9th of November 2014, Colau “cast a ballot in favour of independence” but described it as “a protest” against Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy’s “recentralising, repressive, authoritarian and reactionary policies”. Her ideal solution, continues ‘Politico’, would be to build a Catalan republic inside a confederated Spain. However, according to the newspaper, Colau’s vague position “may be hard to maintain” and emphasises that “secessionist forces are convinced that she will not be able to avoid choosing sides as the debate heats up”.

A key role in Spanish politics

“Her influence is likely to only grow”, assures ‘Politico’ and notes that “since her election, she has consolidated her power, emerging as the unofficial leader of the leftist coalition that won the 2016 general election in Catalonia”. The newspaper also assures that “her name is frequently floated as a future president of the region” and goes even further, naming her as “possibly, leftist candidate” for Spanish President.

London’s Mayor tops ‘Politico’ ranking

London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, tops the ranking of ‘Politico’s 28 most influential names in Europe for 2017. Other personalities such as Turkey’s President, Recept Tayyip Erdogan, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and businessmen such as Spotify co-founder, Daniel Ek, are also amongst the list.