We do not underestimate neo-fascism

The neo-fascist groups operating in the Balearic Islands today are few. But they are young, they are radical, and they are increasingly visible on the streets and online. They are not known for widespread violence, but rather for a growing capacity to recruit, organize, and normalize discourses that until recently were marginal. Precisely for this reason, we cannot underestimate them. History has taught us that movements of this kind do not grow suddenly, but rather take root slowly, taking advantage of indifference, trivialization, or looking the other way.

These small groups do not appear out of nowhere. They are part of an ideological ecosystem that connects directly with the institutional far right. We cannot forget this: the far right governs in Mallorca and holds the presidency of the Balearic Parliament. This context is not neutral. It provides cover, legitimacy, and a framework of normalization that allows the most radical discourses to find spaces in which to grow. It is no coincidence that many of these young people consider Vox to be a right-wing party.light"The institutional far right is quite content with this existence on the margins; it allows them to distance themselves and present themselves as a moderate option, while sharing the same ideological foundations.

Because let's not fool ourselves: these groups and Vox share racist and sexist undertones, and an authorship—in many cases directly glorifying—of the Francoist dictatorship. We are talking mostly about young men, often from affluent social classes, radicalized by hate speech that targets migrants as enemies.

The fact that they are few in number today is no guarantee. A social, political, and institutional framework that leaves no room for ambiguity or complicity is needed. Institutions must keep these groups under control, the police must combat them with legal tools, and the spaces where they often meet—football clubs, gyms, community centers—must assume responsibility. This is not about alarmism, but about democratic responsibility. Neofascism has always been the first mistake.