Amanda Fernández Rubí: "Reaching the growth ceiling foreseen by the Territorial Plan is unfeasible"

Amanda Fernández, a teacher by profession, a member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Socialist Federation of Mallorca, now faces the challenge of contesting the presidency of the Council. She began as a councilwoman in Manacor and was a director general during the governments of Francina Armengol. Now, she defends a project based on setting limits on growth, reducing tourist spots and strengthening the role of the island institution.What do you want to change about Mallorca that justifies you wanting to preside over the Council?

— Living in Mallorca cannot be a privilege. We must leave a recognizable Mallorca to our children. I believe we are all now aware that growing more is not synonymous with living better. We want them to be able to stay here, so they do not have to leave because they have no housing. But not just the young. We also see retired people or families who have to share an apartment, and that breaks your heart. Mallorca has a serious mobility problem and it is no longer about managing traffic jams but rather committing to a change in mobility, starting by promoting public transport, or bringing public services closer to the towns. The PP and Vox have the problem of the climate emergency in a drawer and that cannot happen in a territory with finite resources. We must change the urban planning model of the cities, the economic model, and the ways of working. Of course, all this implies a decrease in tourist places.

What has the PSIB understood from the 2023 defeat?

— We prioritized exiting the pandemic. Given the listening we do to the citizenry, we analyze what we had left to do, of course. In which aspects must we be braver and get down to business, because we must be part of the people's solutions. The right wing has tired of talking about the 115,000 places, when we know they arose from the Delgado Law. I believe that one of the things we did well was regarding vacation rentals. At that moment it was: let's see what is starting and let's regulate it, and I defend that. But I believe we did not see the impact, the growth that this new tourism model would bring. I believe we did not see its extent, the consequences for housing. Many of the criticisms come because we imposed a moratorium the last year or we did a two-for-one, but a two-for-one is degrowth. Why didn't we do it before? During the pandemic, the GDP had dropped 20 points and change and the signs were SOS Tourism. At that moment I believe it was decided to take a break. Could we have addressed it sooner? When it has already passed, perhaps you do want to think about it. I believe it was difficult to have done it sooner, but I believe we must make an analysis of it all.

Do you think a self-criticism process is necessary?

— We have self-criticism and debate within the party. Right now we have debate, we have working groups because we are preparing the Political Conference in different areas. During this process there has been a lot of internal debate and I think we have to do it, but I think it should be exactly that: internal.

If we ask a citizen what the Council of Mallorca does for them, they will probably find it difficult to answer. What should this institution be used for in everyday life?

— It is true, but it is also true that this question is not asked to the councils of the other islands. We ask it in Mallorca because we do not assume the powers that the Council should have and I want to reverse this. Francina Armengol was very recognizable as president of the Council, but there are not many like her.

Define the policy of Llorenç Galmés during this term.

— Llorenç Galmés communicates and has made many announcements. I want the Council to make things happen, not just announce them. I define the policy of the PP and Vox as a mandate of many announcements and few results. An example is the fourth revision of the Territorial Plan, which remains pending.

Galmés said this week that the vehicle entry limit will be applied before the summer of 2027. What conditions must it meet to be an effective measure?

— It has been delayed. The proposal that we brought to Parliament so that it could be made effective this summer that is now ending was 90% yours, but at that time they rejected it, when they could have modified the two articles via amendment. I have the feeling that it was not wanted to be approved and that it is not of interest. Now what do they see: the citizen response.

Do you want to claim full powers in mobility?

— Yes, and I have already raised it in the internal debate and we are clear about it. By Statute, the Council has them. We have to rethink the way we move, not only the public transport frequencies but also the routes. Estellencs has gone from six frequencies to two. We ask the councilor about it and he tells us that there are few passengers there. Indeed, but we cannot only think about the tourists.

Does Mallorca need fewer tourists? Would you reduce the number of legal tourist spots or do you consider it sufficient to pursue illegal supply?

— Of course, if I say that we must degrow, tourist spots must be reduced, and the two-for-one that we approved was already degrowing. Now we have the internal debate of determining how we must do it. On one hand, we think that we must degrow in number of spots, but we also debate if we must set a degrowth by categories. Luxification: improving in quality does not only mean luxury.

Are you working with any specific number or percentage of reduction?

— I cannot give any number right now, but we do want to arrive at the elections with a concrete proposal of how many and how.

If we talk about degrowth, would you modify the Territorial Plan to reduce the land where it is still possible to build?

— Yes. I am a firm advocate of this issue, because reaching the growth ceiling provided for in the Territorial Plan is unfeasible. It is a very difficult job to do, but one that we firmly believe must be done. Not only the Territorial Plan, but also the general plans of all the town councils.

And on rustic land? Are you in favor of increasing the minimum plot size?

— It is one of the most important debates we have, because we have reached a limit situation. I do not have the correct answer, but it will come up at the Political Conference. On the table, there is the increase of the minimum plot size, the prohibition of building on rustic land, and also, what the reaction would be if we propose it, but we have the debate within the party and in a very intense way.

For you, what best explains the Prohens Government: the PP's project or Vox's demands?

— Two years ago, Prohens discovered tourism saturation and made announcements that caused an uproar, because it seemed she had changed her thinking. But we realize that she delivers a friendlier speech, including regarding the language, yet executes the same or worse policies than José Ramon Bauzá. She can go everywhere, but her policies are worse.

What will the Council do so that Catalan gains social use, at a time of marked minority status and decline?

— We will have to roll back many of the policies of the PP and Vox. We defend the bastion of the school because it is the last one we have. The latest studies on the social use of Catalan are very worrying. We must do a lot of work to promote it in leisure, cultural spaces, and make a firm commitment to social networks. We cannot aspire for the school to be the only bastion, because otherwise we are lost.

How should Vox's discourse on immigration be answered without adopting its framework and, at the same time, responding to the challenge posed by demographic growth?

— Prohens discovered the demographic challenge two years ago, and I want to recall that Francina Armengol was the first to speak about it as President of the Government. She went to Madrid to request resources for the Spain that is filling up. It is a challenge that has many facets, because here we also talk about the need to change the economic model.

Is Pedro Sánchez an electoral asset for the PSIB today or does he force you to dedicate too much time to defending decisions made in Madrid?

— There is constant noise and it is enough to see the insults at the demonstrations for Ceuta. During the summer, foreigners have come to the PSIB headquarters asking for Pedro Sánchez, because internationally he is very well recognized. We firmly defend the policies that have put progressive values on the table.

Given the corruption cases affecting the PSOE, do you consider the explanations and measures adopted by the leadership sufficient?

— Action was taken early, defending the presumption of innocence, but morally there are things that cannot be tolerated.

What has teaching taught you that is useful in politics?

— When you are a teacher you understand that you can never give up on a student, and we must apply this to all people: we cannot leave anyone behind. When I say that equity is not one-size-fits-all, I am very clear about it because I have experienced it in the classrooms. Not everyone starts from the same place. Public services are what must guarantee us equal opportunities.

The PSIB has governed the main institutions for years. What would you say to a citizen who stopped voting for progressive parties in 2023, and why should they trust now that you will set limits that you did not set before?

— I would tell him that if he considered that there had to be a change he was not mistaken, but I would also ask him if today he lives better than in 2023 and I think not.

Will Francina Armengol continue as secretary general?

— The general secretary congresses are out of sync. I cannot anticipate what will happen because I believe her leadership is very positive. I believe there will surely be changes and that she has a lot to say, and I believe it suits us for her to be in Madrid. I believe there must be a transition and, although experience is fundamental, there must also be new additions and shifts, but I cannot anticipate what will happen.

Do you see yourself as his successor in the medium term, with a path from the Council to the Government similar to the one Armengol took to succeed Francesc Antich?

— I am where the party asks me to be. Now, as general secretary of Mallorca, I have been able to get to know all the groups in Mallorca and this will serve me well in the Council. If the party asks me, the people support me and I make a personal reflection, I will be there. But if I am not the best option, I will support whoever is, because the party is above individuals.

How does your family handle the fact that you are a deputy, secretary general, and candidate?

— It is an effort we all make. I am lucky to have a partner who has always given me drive and support. My children: the eldest is 15 and we already talk about politics, and the 9-year-old verbalizes many things, but it is true that they rest hours. Even so, I think I fight to improve their lives and because if things go well for mine, it will also go well for the rest.