Ferran Montero: "I have always been more of the street than of the office"

ManacorFerran Montero Sitges, current councillor for Culture and Education, will be the next candidate for mayor of Manacor for MÉS-Esquerra, a party that thus becomes the first to publicly show its hand and make its face official for the May 2027 elections. Let's talk about it for a while.

No other party has made its female or male candidate official. Is it too soon?

— We were clear that we wanted to be the first and to be able to take advantage of the summer to get together and get closer to people. It is a formula that we have already used on previous occasions and it has worked very well for us. It is a way to have more time for them to get to know you better, to talk to everyone and to do everything more calmly. And I think that way you also give people the option to position themselves.

Was it difficult to make the decision?

— After discussing it with friends and family, I have decided to move forward. It's been about a year since there were internal comments, but I didn't want to make any false moves or position myself too early. Now yes, it can be said that I have pressed the play button [smiles]. Internally, it was also necessary to do so because Miquel [Oliver] announced two years ago that he would not run again as a candidate for mayor, and I think a reasonable time has passed and it was the right moment.

Do nerves or excitement win out?

— I must admit that after eleven years of Miquel Oliver's leadership, it feels strange that it is precisely I who am taking over the candidacy.

Why do you say that?

— Because I was 19 years old when he first entered in 2015. And now, after so much time, to be able to be the one to succeed him, it's a bit shocking. But it's clear that enthusiasm wins.

What would Ferran Montero be like as mayor?

— I believe that during these years I have been a councilor, I have tried to be very approachable. Some councilwomen tell me that if I showed the bunch of keys I always carry with me, people would understand. I mean that I am always available to open or manage something, even on Sundays. I have always been more of the street than of the office, and it is something I want to continue maintaining if I am the mayor of Manacor.

From that union between MÉS per Mallorca and Esquerra Republicana, a party has emerged where it is now difficult to know which councilor came from one or the other. I suppose that is good...

— Absolutely. The promoters of that union more than a decade ago, Miquel Oliver and Sebastià Llodrà for MÉS, and Joan Llodrà and Joan Gaià for Esquerra, did a very good job thinking about the town. An effort that was good for Manacor and that made the two parties together achieve even better results and grow. That this union has happened into one thing and is perceived as such says a lot about what we have achieved.

However, as of today, the next elections do not look very good for you and yes for the Popular Party, for example. Is it too early for polls or do you also believe that the trend is this?

— We have served three legislatures in a row and that is an effort. It is clear that what wears you down is being in power, and those in the opposition always have a more comfortable position. All parties have their likes and dislikes, and you know you won't please everyone. That said, I believe that the experience accumulated over all these years is also a value to consider. It is difficult to administer such a large city council, but we haven't given up. Even though we were in the minority for the first two years, we approved allocations from surpluses for projects that are now beginning to become a reality. Furthermore, the PP, the PSOE, and Vox depend on what happens in Madrid and what their leaders do at the national level; we do not.

Do you really think we will see a left-wing government again in 2027?

— I am sure that by joining forces we will govern again with the same formula.