Prohens recites the far-right script on migration and skips major announcements.

PalmCongratulations, accompanied by irrelevant announcements, and a recitation of the far-right's script on migration. These were the two axes around which Prime Minister Marga Prohens's speech revolved on the first day of the general policy debate this Tuesday. Prohens's intervention made it clear that the government is currently confident in moving forward with major projects, unless it mends its relationship with Vox. One of the phrases Prohens repeated most often during her speech was: "We said it, we did it." It was heard up to 14 times. And the same number of times she said that the government was making policies "for the local people," referring to migration.

Now that, according to the Prime Minister, tourist saturation is beginning to be controlled, it is time to move on to "population growth," especially with regard to irregular immigration. Prohens argued that the Government's tourism policies have resulted "in a change in trend, something already recognized by the media and experts." This is despite the fact that the Sustainability Pact is scheduled to begin the proposal phase in October, which will no longer be evaluated by a committee of experts but by employers' associations and unions. In this regard, the president had some critical words for the civil society organizations that abandoned this initiative due to a lack of transparency and participatory mechanisms: "I want to take this opportunity to thank all the organizations that have been willing to roll up their sleeves for participation, not from the comfort of criticism, but from a committed and demanding position," which they preferred.

In terms of proposals, despite the lack of significant measures, there was no shortage of variety: repairing the escalators and improving the air conditioning at the Intermodal Station; deploying the Barnhaus model for minors who are victims of sexual abuse; transferring public land to the private sector for affordable, protected housing; expanding the bus fleet with 21 new vehicles; and the presentation of the Balearic Islands' energy atlas. She also mentioned new laws: on pharmacies, disability, and agriculture. Another initiative she highlighted was "the dissemination of our fables" through an exhibition that will be shown in schools. The Psychological Care Plan in Primary Care and the €10,000 grant for home purchases for young people under 40 were the president's most important announcements.

Migration took center stage in the final section of Prohens' speech. The president announced tougher access to aid, requiring proof of three years of residency, amid applause from the Popular Party (to qualify for protected housing, proof of five is required). "We cannot allow those who come with the sole purpose of abusing our aid and public benefits as their only means of livelihood, much less for it to have a pull effect," she declared. "As part of the strategy for a change in pattern to halt the current trend of population growth, in addition to transforming our economic model and halting pull effect policies, it is essential to combat illegal immigration," she added. In fact, Prohens called for the defense of the Balearic Islands' distinct identity, with "Christian humanism" and "Western values" as pillars of island society, pillars that are at risk.

She also spoke of her own language, despite only mentioning "Catalan" once in her 47-page speech, when discussing the courses offered to healthcare professionals. Unlike her immigration rhetoric, the president continues to distance herself from Vox in this area and asserts that the PP will not cross any red lines. However, the Popular Party (PP) will include the vehicular use of Spanish in the Education Law, she recalled.

The president mentioned left-wing political figures such as Fèlix Pons, Francesc Antich, and Pere Sampol, to the astonishment of the progressive deputies, and told them that "centrality means recognizing the work of those with whom we do not share ideologies, but whom we deeply respect." Not one deputy from the PSIB or MÁS party applauded these mentions. Miquel Roca and Felipe González were also present at Prohens' speech, who also quoted Antoni Maura ("Politics is word, action and responsibility") and The Formentor pine, a symbol of a people who "fight the gales that encircle the riverbank, like a giant warrior." The only problem in this case is that Prohens has attributed the poem's authorship to Father Alcover. It's worth noting that the author of this work is Miquel Costa i Llobera.

The PSIB deputies, all wearing a badge commemorating Palestine, echoed Prohens's speech several times and laughed when the president pointed out that Parliament had not approved the decree law launching the government's project accelerator unit. "Wow!" was heard from the left-wing bench. Meanwhile, former Vox deputy and member of the Mixed Group, Xisco Cardona, struggled to stay awake—at times, he couldn't. As for the councilors, many stared discreetly at their phones, leaving only the Minister of Social Affairs, Sandra Fernández, who gave a hint of applause when Prohens demanded a decent insularity bonus for civil servants in the islands. At the end, Prohens and the PP applauded each other, while the Minister of the Presidency, Antònia Estarellas, gestured to the president, indicating that the worst was over.