Government reshuffle: Prohens replaces Cirer, promotes Estarellas, and creates a Ministry of Labor

PalmPresident Marga Prohens announced this Friday a reshuffle of the government to "strengthen key policies" midway through the term. She created a second vice-president, to be held by the current Minister of the Presidency, Antònia Estarellas. In parallel, Prohens announced the creation of the Ministry of Labor, to be led by Catalina Cabrer. Catalina Cirer has also been replaced as head of the Ministry of Families and Social Affairs. Sandra Fernández, a current PP member in Congress, will replace her in the position.

The president has left it up to Cirer to explain the reason for the change at the helm of Families and Social Affairs. However, she has denied that it is motivated by the criticism she has received from the opposition for her management of the General Directorate of Immigration. "Everything Cirer said in the plenary session was said by the entire Government," she said. However, the General Directorate of Immigration will now fall under the jurisdiction of Estarellas' second vice-presidency, a decision that the president has said is due to the minister's experience in the field. "She was Director General of Immigration," she clarified.

Prohens thanked Cirer for her work at the helm of the Ministry and highlighted her extensive political career. "She has been a minister, a delegate for the Spanish government, and mayor of Palma," she explained. "She will always be a political figure on these islands, an essential person in the PP, and one of my greatest role models and guides." The current Director General of Coasts and the Coastline, Carles Simarro, will replace Fernández in the Congress of Deputies. In parallel, due to the creation of the Ministry of Labor, the department led by Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro will become the Ministry of Business, Self-Employed Workers, and Energy.

Regarding the creation of the second vice-presidency, the president stated that it responds to the objective of "strengthening the internal coordination of the Government." "The first vice-president, Antoni Costa, will be in charge of coordinating the economic ministries," she explained: "We must boost the area of innovation." Regarding Estarellas' new role, she argued that she will coordinate the ministries responsible for public services. She also emphasized prioritizing dialogue with city councils. "I want a more municipal government, close to the citizens and city councils, at street level," she asserted. For this reason, a new General Directorate of Local Cooperation will be created under Estarellas, while the Ministry of the Presidency will also become the Ministry of Government Action Coordination and Local Cooperation.

Boosting the Pact for Sustainability

"The Pact for Sustainability is not only more alive than ever, but it will also play a significant role in the next two years," the Prime Minister asserted. The new Ministry of Labor will be responsible for implementing measures in conjunction with unions and employers' organizations, she explained, with a General Directorate of Economic Transition. Similarly, Cabrer is also tasked with developing the work-life balance law, while San Pedro, now in charge of Business and the Self-Employed, will be responsible for specific policies for entrepreneurs and self-employed workers.