The income of discos in Catalunya is not, so far, being negatively affected by the new ban on smoking in many interior spaces, according to the Catalan Federation of Associations of Muscial Recreation Activities (read article in Castilian here, El Periodico). The organisation's secretary general, Joaquim Boadas, says that smokers are complying with the new law without any problems and as such, he doesn't expect the legislation to have a negative effect on the businesses represented by the federation. In fact, Boadas said that the banning of smoking in nightclubs has seen a rise in the number of clubs that smokers visit as they go outside to have a cigarette and then move onto a different club, where before they would just have stayed in the same place for longer. As a result, he believes that the clubs will benefit from a greater volume of customers. In addition, it is forecast that non-smokers will start going more to discos because of the new law, which will also benefit the businesses' turnover.

Xavier Trias, the Convergència i Unió (CiU) candidate for Barcelona's municipal elections to be held in May, says that he won't make a pact with the Catalan Socialist Party to get into power (read article in Catalan here, Avui). Although in recent times, Trias has shown himself willing to work in partnership with the current Barcelona mayor, Jordi Hereu, he has now declared that such a move would not be appropriate now, because the electorare are looking for change and wouldn't understand if CiU won the elections and didn't take over the city council as a result. However, Trias did say that if he becomes mayor following the vote on May 22nd, there would be the possibility of collaboration with different groups on specific issues, extending thus the concept of 'government of the best' declared by new Generalitat president and leader of CiU, Artur Mas. Trias criticised Hereu for consistently refusing to make ad hoc agreements with CiU during his mandate.