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The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce is restructuring its governing plenary ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that reduces elected seats while increasing paid positions for major corporations, according to reports from elEconomista.es. The adjustment cuts elected seats from 52 to 44 and raises paid “silver seats” from two to ten, setting off a sharp political clash between business factions over the representation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Restructuring the Plenary and Sector Impact
Under the new distribution scheme accessed by elEconomista.es, several economic sectors will lose elected representation. Commerce, hospitality, transport, storage, business services, and professional offices will collectively choose six fewer delegates. Specifically, merchants will lose two seats, and hospitality businesses will forfeit one, while the industrial sector gives up two elected spots.
Conversely, construction and finance maintain their current quotas of three and two seats, respectively. The banking sector, housed within the financial group, retains its single seat currently held by Banco Sabadell, according to the same report.
The Generalitat’s Role and Chamber Governance
According to elEconomista.es, the shift follows formulas embedded in state framework legislation rather than representing a discretionary maneuver by the current leadership.
Chamber governance relies on assigning economic activities to specific groups and subcategories using IAE (Economic Activities Tax) codes. During election cycles, registered businesses vote for candidates within their category. Regulations mandate that elected members must comprise at least two-thirds of the chamber parliament, with the plenary rounded out by employer associations capped at 10% and members making large voluntary financial contributions.
Clashing Factions: Va d’Empresa Versus Opposition Groups
The plenary voted 29-29 last week, with President Josep Santacreu casting the deciding vote to expand paid seats and grant greater leverage to large corporations. Santacreu, who leads the Va d’Empresa platform that won the 2023 elections, told La Vanguardia that large enterprises lacked sufficient presence and that the prior structure favored small and medium-sized enterprises.
Opposition groups, including Eines de País and Pimec, strongly criticized the expansion of seats tied to financial contributions. Antoni Fitó of Eines de País disputed the claim of underrepresentation, stating to elEconomista.es that large companies hold 25% of the plenary and over 40% of the executive committee. Meanwhile, Foment del Treball declined to comment on the internal governance dispute, with a spokesperson stating the organization does not evaluate the governance of other entities.