Destroy the Trenc (and all the rest)

That old saying that goes ‘the law is made, the loophole is made’ has acquired a new dimension with the Omnibus Law of the Government of Marga Prohens, which has been a loophole from the very beginning. At first, it was called the Law for the acceleration of strategic projects and was announced as a reduction of administrative obstacles for foreign investors, an idea that may seem reasonable if by “foreign investors” we mean minimally presentable companies, and not vulture funds and Central and South American mafias. The spectacle arrived with the presentation of amendments, with which the PP and Vox took the opportunity to stuff this law with the commitments that the PP had acquired with Vox, none of which had anything to do with the initial objective of the law and yes with the ideological obsessions of the extreme right. Thus, the new law ended up making room for things as strategic as the legalization of pigeon shooting at popular festivals, the reservation of places for military personnel in the Local Police, and the use of taser guns by municipal agents, among others. So far, we are talking about the kind of things that excite fans of Chuck Norris films. There are others that are more directly harmful to the common good and citizen coexistence, such as the toughening of conditions for minors under guardianship to receive an emancipation income, the relaxation of conservation controls for environmentally relevant spaces, and the elimination of the Catalan language requirement in various areas and cases of public education, among others.The following blunders have culminated in a huge mess: the deregulation of natural spaces, in general, and of the Trenc – Salobrar de Campos Natural Park, in particular. The amendments introduced to the Omnibus Law on this matter represent a blatant deregulation of the legal regime that has so far protected the Natural Park, and grants the Consell de Mallorca the power to modify it by simply approving a decree. Despite the PP wanting to deny it, and taking to social media accusing environmental organizations –Terraferida and GOB– of spreading lies and fakes, the reality is that this new legal framework grants ample room to fill Trenc with kiosks, constructions, parking lots, beach services (sunbeds, umbrellas, sailing and sports schools, jet skis, etc.) and all sorts of tourist uses. Beyond the Trenc Park, the Omnibus Law also deregulates other areas considered of environmental relevance such as the Cabrera National Park, the Dragonera Natural Park and the Serra de Tramuntana Natural Site.Ultimately, a final offensive to fill everything with cement and concrete, and also to fill some pockets with banknotes (few, and mostly foreign: the PP and Vox and their allied businessmen act as commission agents in this business). There is also, as we have said on occasion, a component of revenge: in the vicinity of Campos and Santanyí, within very specific families, the declaration of El Trenc as a natural park and the demolition order for the illegal apartments of Les Covetes, still sting. This is a story of the avarice and indignity of some who have thought themselves the elite of these islands, against the well-being of all society. It may be that many will agree with them out of ignorance, self-interest, or simple servile inertia. But there are also many of us who will not stand idly by to watch them destroy everything for the unhealthy hunger for money that they have not earned. Those of us who disagree will see each other several times this summer: the first, next Sunday, the 5th, at the human chain of El Trenc.