The future senator for Formentera is at risk after the PP abstained in Congress

PalmThe Spanish Congress of Deputies on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the Constitution so that Formentera could have its own senator. The proposal initially had the support of all parties in the Balearic Parliament, except Vox. However, the People's Party (PP) abstained in the congressional vote, while the Socialist Party (PSOE), Sumar, the nationalist parties, and a large part of the mixed group voted in favor. If they do not change their abstention to a "yes" vote when the bill is debated, the residents of Formentera will be left without a senator. The PP has warned that it will vote in favor unless the PSOE introduces "tricks" or "traps" into the final text, and has indicated that for now it has distanced itself from the bill out of "prudence." This was the argument put forward by the PP's spokesperson in the Balearic Parliament, Sebastià Sagreras. "The PP advocates for Formentera to have a senator," he asserted. "We will vote in favor if the PSOE doesn't take advantage of the constitutional reform process to introduce other issues, for example, against the fiscal autonomy of the Balearic Islands," he added. Sagreras made these statements after receiving criticism from the other parties, including Vox, which, despite opposing granting a senator to Formentera, joined the left and criticized the PP for voting in favor in the Balearic Parliament but abstaining in the Congress.

"Alberto Núñez Feijóo gives orders and Marga Prohens obeys," denounced PSIB spokesperson Iago Negueruela. "Not even the PP deputies for the Balearic Islands voted in favor," he emphasized. "The PP is voting against the interests of Formentera," he continued, accusing the Popular Party of "betrayal." Similarly, Més deputy for Menorca Josep Castells reminded everyone that amending the Constitution requires the support of three-fifths of Congress, and insisted that the PP "must change its abstention to a 'yes' vote." Meanwhile, the spokesperson for MÁS for Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, celebrated that the senator for Formentera "is closer to the agreement." "Send a message to Mr. José Vicente Marí Bosó," he continued, also criticizing the PP deputy for Ibiza for his abstention: "That's not what Balearic nationalism is about."