Empordaguia

Magda Casamitjana i Aguila is 47 yeas old, married, and has a son and a daughter; she graduated in Catalan Philology, loves sports, especially basketball, and is Mayor of Roses since May 2007. She answers rapidly and with ease, as if she had learnt her lesson by heart.

We went for a walk on the promenade by the beach. Everybody we met on this rainy afternoon stopped to tell her something or to ask about some pending matter. Nobody needed to explain what it was about: she had it all at her fingertips. Some kids complained about some matter: “Remember what you promised us,” demanded one of them. “It’s already being taken care of,” the Mayor answered. She looks at me, smiling, as if she had to justify the attitude of the kids. “They know me nearly since birth. They were my pupils at school. That is why they speak to me with such direct ease.” Magda Casamitjana looks like the energetic woman she is, and is obviously more used to giving orders that to receiving them. Yet she is compliant and friendly with the photographer. Afterwards, in her office, our conversation was effortless. Nevertheless I am sure she can also be difficult, hard, one of those people that heads directly for their goal. She listens carefully to the questions, making sure to understand every detail. She doesn’t seem to have many doubts.

What is the most important for a Mayor?
To listen to the people.
What is the main flaw one can have?
To think you are unique in your position.
What critiques do you most fear?
That people say you are lying, because you cannot fight against that.
What’s the worst criticism you’ve had to endure?
That’s it.
(She explains, that she was accused of lying not long ago) Does it still hurt?
Yes, because it’s not criticising your way of governing, it’s personal.
From what critique have you learnt most?
Anything from colleagues who appreciate me, because they speak so that I might learn and not to put me down.
A self-criticism?
(She smiles) I oblige people around me to follow my rhythm.
Are you politically ambitious?
(She slightly raises her voice) No! I would never have thought I’d me Mayor, that I would do this job. Because it’s a job…. I am a mother, a woman, and professionally I’m a graduate in Catalan Philology. I’m open to life! To stay put in one aspect of life is not “my thing”. And I certainly enjoy doing what I do. Even so, eight years are enough!
Discounting the clichés, does power have its rewards?
(She looks pensively into the distance) To have the possibility of creating is a reward. That’s the main thing, to be able to improve life in the town. But power also means criticism and envy.
What are you most proud of as Mayor?
To lead a change in the development of Roses. (Pause). And to have succeeded in uniting four groups of very different people around the sole objective of Roses.
And as a woman?
To be free, without depending on anybody for anything.
I am a witness to the pride with which she says this