The conversations of PP and Vox about the agrarian law continue at a standstill

PalmaConversations between the PP and Vox about the agricultural law remain stalled where they were at the beginning of June. Vox does not see certain points of the regulation clearly and, for now, does not support it. Meanwhile, the Government is moving forward. Sources from the Executive explain that the bill will be approved in the Governing Council in the coming weeks: foreseeably, the second half of September. Along with the limitation of vehicles in Mallorca, it is the last important law that the PP wants to approve before the end of the term, but for now, negotiations with the far-right are at a standstill.

One of the most controversial points of the regulation that the Minister of Agriculture, Joan Simonet, has intensely negotiated with the sector is the fact that the law implies an expansion of tourist places. According to the draft of the law, if approved, professional agricultural holdings will be able to have up to 10 places to accommodate visitors and, in addition, existing buildings can be expanded by up to 20% to carry out this leisure activity. The most important requirement to convert agricultural farms into tourist holdings is that they have been registered for four years and that tourism is formally considered a complementary activity, as explained by ARA Balears.

The initiative starts with the opposition of the left. Therefore, Vox's support is key for it to move forward. The PP informed Vox of the draft's content approximately six months ago. At that time, it seemed they would agree. But after the Consell de Mallorca decided to approve the regulation of vehicle entry without Vox, the far-right warned that it was considering overturning the agrarian law as retaliation, as published by ARA Balears. This was at the beginning of June and, since then, the PP has not made any approach to Vox.

Sources from the far-right party explain that they consider the regulation of agro-tourism to be channeled through the tourism law. Furthermore, they warn that the subsidies provided for by the regulations for the agricultural sector establish more requirements, which may leave out small landowners. "If the PP wants the law to move forward, they will have to talk to us first and present it jointly, but if they want to take a risk and present it alone...", they warn. The final decision will rest with Vox's state leadership.

Executive sources explain that negotiations will not go any further and that the regulation will be brought to the Governing Council at the end of September. "We are late compared to the initial forecasts: it had to be postponed because many allegations have been presented and the ministry has responded to all of them," they assure. "We will take the law to Parliament regardless of what Vox does, as we have done in recent times," they continue. "Although there is no agreement, they are informed about it," they conclude.