The former mayor of Seville denounces that the city is losing opportunities and calls for a joint plan between administrations, universities, and civil society to overcome inequalities and lack of investments.
The former mayor of Seville, Juan Espinosa, has launched a proposal to reverse the feeling of stagnation that, in his opinion, the capital of Andalusia is experiencing. In an opinion piece, Espinosa suggests the creation of a Shared Agenda for Seville, a plan that brings together the three administrations —the central government, the Junta de Andalucía, and the City Council— along with universities, the business sector, social agents, and civil society, with clear priorities, public deadlines, and accountability mechanisms.
The former mayor, who governed the city for eight years, asserts that there is a worrying feeling in Seville: that opportunities always come too late. He points out that young people cannot find housing to build their life projects, that neighborhoods like Sevilla Este, Bellavista, Torreblanca, or Polígono Sur are still waiting for answers to eliminate inequalities, and that entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators agree that the city has the capacity to lead but needs institutions that believe in it.
Espinosa emphasizes that the primary loyalty of any public official in Seville must be to Seville, regardless of who is in power. "Loyalty can never be confused with silence, nor can opposition be equated with passively waiting for the wind to change," he states. During his time as mayor, he says he learned that governing Seville means defending its interests: agreeing when possible and demanding firmly when necessary.
The former mayor criticizes that while each administration looks to the others, the city loses time that it cannot recover. "For a major capital, time is also competitiveness, employment, and opportunities," he argues. Therefore, he demands the same ambition from the three administrations: from the Spanish government, a strong commitment to infrastructure, innovation, and strategic investments; from the Junta, responses in health, education, housing, and dependency; and from the City Council, leadership, initiative, and a clear idea of direction.
Espinosa insists that great cities do not improvise their future nor leave it to a sudden effect or a change in the political cycle. "They build it with continuity, collaboration, and an ambition that survives governments," he writes. He proposes that the Shared Agenda should not be a mere photo opportunity or a statement of intentions, but a tool with clear priorities, public deadlines, and accountability.
The former mayor concludes that it is not about assigning blame or waiting for others' mistakes to resolve one's own shortcomings. "It is about preventing Seville from getting used to waiting," he asserts. And he warns: "Some may believe that certain political inertia will last a long time. But no institutional comfort should be acceptable when a city has essential decisions pending."
Espinosa's proposal comes at a time when the Andalusian capital faces challenges such as the lack of affordable housing, deficiencies in infrastructure, or the gap between neighborhoods. The former mayor does not specify deadlines or mechanisms to implement the agenda, but insists that the city cannot afford any more delays.
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