PSIB and Vox give the green light to the PP to accelerate the creation of the new private university in Mallorca

PalmAn alliance between the PP, PSIB, and Vox parties is accelerating the creation of the University of Mallorca (UMAC). This new private institution is being promoted by Adema, an organization chaired by Diego González, former secretary general of the PSIB in Palma and former director general during Francesc Antich's term. The PP secured the support of both parties to add the debate on the proposed law to the agenda at the last minute. In contrast, Más per Mallorca and Més per Menorca opposed the proposal and accused the PP of legislating "to order." Government sources explain that this maneuver is motivated by a desire to facilitate the center's establishment as quickly as possible, given that the Ministry of Science is tightening requirements for private universities. The new private university project represents a step by ADEMA, formerly affiliated with the UIB, which has decided to separate from the public University of the Balearic Islands and embark on an independent path. ADEMA currently offers courses in Dentistry, Fine Arts, and Nutrition.

The People's Party (PP) registered the proposed law to create the center last Tuesday, which also allows for the elimination of procedural steps, since the bills presented by the Government require much more documentation. Vox also announced that it will vote in favor of the legislation, although they hope to "improve its text." The deputy spokesperson for the parliamentary group, Sergio Rodríguez, insisted that "public and private are not mutually exclusive." For their part, Más per Mallorca, Más per Menorca, and Unidas Podemos have announced their vote against it. However, the Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands (PSIB) has not guaranteed its support for the legislation, which is just beginning its parliamentary process. Although it will not oppose expediting its processing, it abstained in the first vote on the text in exchange for the introduction of an amendment requiring Parliament to authorize any change of ownership of the center. "The university cannot be a financial asset," argued PSIB deputy Mercedes Garrido: "This will prevent a vulture fund from entering the Balearic universities." Más per Mallorca, Más per Menorca, and Unidas Podemos voted against it.

The project has run up against the approval, on October 28, 2025, of the royal decree that tightens the requirements for creating new universities. The Ministry believes there has been a proliferation of private universities with projects that do not guarantee sufficient quality. For example, they conduct little scientific research.

In a parallel report, Ministry technicians rejected the UMAC project promoted by ADEMA. As reported The CountryThe project presented some viability and teaching research issues. However, this opinion is not binding, and ADEMA urged the Executive to proceed with the project. Executive sources explain that if the project is approved by Parliament in the coming weeks, this could help it circumvent some of the new requirements imposed by the Ministry, although this is not guaranteed. Similarly, sources from MÉS per Mallorca and Més por Mallorca explain that representatives of the institution made contact to try to get the Parliament to unanimously approve its creation, which would further expedite the procedures, but the eco-sovereignists refused.

The PP argues that it responds to "growing needs"

From the People's Party (PP), Deputy Lourdes Curtó defended the proposed law, stating that it "responds to the growing needs" of the population to "expand the educational offerings" in the Balearic Islands. "The University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) will continue to be our leading public university," she said. Garrido justified the Socialist group's abstention. "This is an initiative from a center already affiliated with the UIB, which requested expansion, sparking intense debate, but which has ultimately decided to forge its own path," he explained. In this regard, he denied that this university's case resembles the controversy surrounding the creation of CEU San Pablo University in the Islands. "They are different projects; this time it was carried out without impositions or questionable urban development," he insisted.

The People's Party (PP) attempted to introduce the implementation of CEU San Pablo University in Mallorca through the Decree for the Acceleration of Projects, which allowed for changes in land use regulations when the purpose was to facilitate university centers. Under this law, the Palma General Plan was modified to accommodate the private higher education center, based on a favorable report from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. However, the decree ultimately failed because it did not obtain the necessary majority support in the Balearic Parliament: Vox voted against it.

Speaking against the proposal, Maria Ramon, MÉS deputy for Mallorca, championed public education. "We are now defining the university education model for the next twenty or thirty years because we don't know how far we will go," she continued. Similarly, Joana Gomila (Más per Menorca) criticized the PP's haste: "Not even you believe the excuse of urgency to create more university offerings." She insisted that they want to accelerate the process because "now the report is only binding." For his part, Rodríguez (Vox) accused the left of wanting to turn the Balearic Islands into "North Korea" and defended the establishment of CEU San Pablo University. "What's wrong with having one more university?" he asked. "They nag us all day about diversification, and when a diversification project comes along, they don't like it either."