The non-binding consultation, held from 8 May to 3 July, resulted in 429 votes in favour of Verdum compared to 118 for Verdun. The municipal council will now decide whether to formalise the name change.
The Barcelona neighbourhood of Verdun, in the Nou Barris district, could change its name after the majority of residents who participated in a non-binding vote opted for the name Verdum. The result, announced this Friday, shows 429 votes in favour of Verdum and 118 for retaining Verdun, according to data from the participatory process initiated by the Barcelona City Council.
The consultation, open to residents aged 14 and over registered in the area, took place through the Decidim.Barcelona platform between 8 May and 3 July, with an extension of the initial deadline. Although the vote is non-binding, the council considers it a preliminary step to gather residents' opinions before the municipal council makes a definitive decision.
The debate over the neighbourhood's name arises from the coexistence of two historical names. The official name, Verdun, refers to the World War I battle fought in 1916, which resulted in over 350,000 deaths and ended with a French victory of little strategic value. The unofficial name, Verdum, comes from the name of a common bird in European forests that was used for an ornithological association in the neighbourhood in the 1930s.
The Barcelona City Council titled the participatory process 'Verdun/Verdum, the letter that changes everything', to emphasise the difference of just one letter between the two options. During the voting weeks, residents were able to express their preference in an environment that, according to municipal sources, has been one of civic debate and mutual respect.
Now, the final decision rests with the municipal council, which will have to certify or deny the name change. The closest precedent is the Navas neighbourhood in Sant Andreu, where the Residents' Association promoted the change to Torrent de la Guineu. In that case, the proposal also went through a residents' consultation and was ultimately approved by the council, although a sector of residents continues to defend the original name and has promoted another participatory process that will begin in the autumn.
For the residents of Verdun, the change to Verdum would mean reclaiming a root more connected to nature and local history, as opposed to the memory of a distant and tragic battle. The spokesperson for the residents' association that has led the campaign for the change has pointed out that the vote demonstrates the majority support for a name that is more identity-focused and less associated with war.
The City Council has reminded that the process follows the established channels in the Barcelona Citizen Participation Regulation, which provides for non-binding consultations as a tool for active listening. The final decision, however, lies with the council, which could ratify the result of the residents' vote or open a new debate.
Meanwhile, the residents of Nou Barris hope that the council will expedite the procedures so that, if the change is approved, the signs and official documentation reflect the new name as soon as possible. The next council session could include this item on the agenda.
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