The Generalitat of Catalonia has awarded the judge, lawyer, and former mayor of Madrid (2015-2019) Manuela Carmena the XXI Premi Blanquerna in recognition of her "attitude of dialogue and collaboration" with Barcelona, as well as for having promoted meeting spaces that have favored democratic coexistence and reinforced social cohesion.
The Premi Blanquerna is an honorary distinction, without financial endowment, that the Generalitat awards through the Delegation of the Govern in Madrid. Its objective is to recognize individuals or entities that have excelled for their "contribution to the development, promotion, knowledge, or projection of Catalonia."
The first call for the award was held in 1993 and continued uninterrupted until 2010; it was subsequently awarded again in 2017. In 2025 it was recovered again, after an 8-year hiatus without being called, and on that occasion the awardee was the poet Luis García Montero.
"Constructive" relationship with Barcelona
In this XXI edition, the jury has emphasized that the willingness to dialogue and cooperation shown by Carmena during her time at the head of the Madrid City Council materialized in an "open and constructive" relationship with Barcelona. It has been precisely the current Barcelona mayor, Jaume Collboni, who has presented Carmena's candidacy for the award.
The jury is chaired by the conseller of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, who holds the presidency, while the vice-presidency falls to the delegate of the Govern in Madrid, Núria Marín. Various figures from the cultural, journalistic, and academic fields participate as members, including Jordi Amat, Àngels Barceló, Enric Juliana, Irene Escolar, José María Lassalle, Rocío Martínez-Sampere, and Carme Riera Sanfeliu.