Judge opens investigation into Barcelona mayor for fining firm for attempting to evict tenants

A judge has opened an investigation into Barcelona mayor Ada Colau for fining real estate investment fund Vauras for attempting to evict tenants living in the occupied 'Bloc de Llavors' building in 2019.

Colau, who was forced to withdraw the fines, will have to testify in court on March 13.

Three days before, on March 10, Marc Serra and Lucía Martín, councilor for the Poble-sec neighborhood and councilor for housing, respectively, will testify.

The city council fined Vauras for not offering housing alternatives to vulnerable tenants when trying to evict them and for not complying with the current legislation. The €417,000 fines were withdrawn after a court ordered the city authorities to do so last May.

The complaint filed by the investment fund against the city council was first shelved, but in April 2022, Barcelona magistrates ordered the case to be reopened. 

Evictions in 2020

The case dates back to March 2020, when the Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police evicted six families. At the time, the city council had asked the firm to find housing alternatives for the evicted residents, but this was not done. The building had been occupied since the summer of 2017.

A little bit over a year later, on May 25, 2021, law enforcement agents were supposed to evict more people from the 'Bloc de Llavors.' However, when they forced the door open, they found it was empty and gave the keys back to the owner.

But, outside, around 200 people demonstrated, even throwing paint at police. 12 people are under investigation for this protest, three for undermining the authorities and nine for public disorder.