Anti-politics

Almost halfway through this legislative term, it seems the Balearic Islands have become, as has already happened with regions like the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Extremadura, and Murcia, a testing ground for the anti-politics that is looming at the national level. Or, in other words: the reality that arises when a liberal or conservative party, with a democratic bent like the PP claims, comes to need the votes of anti-establishment and far-right parties, with populist and anti-constitutional rhetoric, such as Vox. Few institutions are spared, and the Balearic Islands Government, the Council of Mallorca, and the Palma City Council serve as unfortunate examples of this.

The Government has been in the news again this week for two different reasons. On the one hand, because the Linguistic Segregation Plan of Minister Vera has failed once again, with less than 5% of schools applying to separate their children based on the language they speak; A measure supposedly imposed by Vox in exchange for providing stability to the government. Furthermore, it has also been announced that Vox will not vote in favor of next year's budget, which, in addition to jeopardizing the current administration's continuity, should lead to the immediate withdrawal of this plan, which goes against a consensus that has lasted for decades. Does the PP intend to return to reason and moderation?

In the Consell, the electoral arithmetic has resulted in Vox entering into a coalition government with the PP, leading to even harsher measures to appease Spanish nationalists. A prime example is the elimination of earmarked funding for the Obra Cultural Balear, representing over 5,000 island residents in the defense of the language, culture, and the island, and for Jóvenes de Mallorca por la Lengua (Youth of Mallorca for the Language), an exemplary youth organization that fosters self-esteem among young people. However, the aid provided by an institution like the Council should not be tied to any political ideology, but rather to the usefulness and work carried out by the recipient entities; an indisputable and proven task, demonstrated over years in both cases.

Finally, and somewhat absurdly, there is the Palma City Council, which intends to declare Pedro Sánchez a person of nationality at next week's plenary session. persona non grata in the city, as responsible for "Spain being politically sickYes. You read that right: it's a proposal from Vox that the PP will almost certainly vote in favor of, and not a quote from Joseph Goebbels. Fellow travelers Prohens, Galmés, and Martínez, on the other hand, champion quite the opposite, distancing themselves from the image of moderation they would like to project after the grim Bauzá era.