The rebels of Capdepera, on the verge of taking over the mayor's office, reconcile with the leadership of MÁS

PalmMÉS per Mallorca could win a mayoralty following a reconciliation between the party leadership and the rebel councilors of Capdepera. The party expelled the five representatives from the municipal group two years ago after they disobeyed the executive committee's orders and formed a coalition government with the PP. In accordance with this agreement, the eco-sovereignist Núria Garcia will be sworn in as mayor on November 6th, after allowing Mireia Ferrer (PP) to govern for two years. After weeks of talks and negotiations, the MÉS leadership is prepared to readmit the dissidents, as confirmed by ARA Baleares.

In October 2023, the party's island executive committee vetoed a coalition with the People's Party (PP) in Capdepera, deeming a pact with the PP unacceptable while that party maintained alliances with Vox. However, after consulting with the municipal assembly, the councilors ultimately chose to disobey. They believed that such a pact would guarantee better governance in Capdepera, where the PP won the elections but only held five council seats, while MÁS and the PSIB each had five. "It was a difficult decision," recalls Garcia. "We held many assemblies, we asked ourselves many questions, but we believed that Capdepera [until then governed by the PSIB] needed a change in leadership." This, he admits, caused "tensions with Palma." "Steps are being taken to resolve this situation, and I trust that things will be sorted out soon, because there is a willingness on both sides," he explains. In recent months, talks and meetings have taken place in this regard.

Sources within the party leadership confirm this. In recent statements to ARA Baleares, the party leader, Lluís Apesteguia, admitted that the situation in Capdepera needed to be "addressed." "MÉS per Mallorca and MÉS per Capdepera must come together again," he explained: "We must rebuild trust and the ability to work together." "At that time, I maintained, beyond my political stance—that as long as the PP was making deals with Vox, we couldn't make deals with the PP—that the political leadership in MÉS, including its local branches, belonged to the executive committee," he asserted: "I still maintain that position." "I understand the special circumstances that led the Capdepera assembly to make the decision they did," he said. "It's a municipality that had been governed by the PSIB for many years, a party that was exhausted, and they felt it was time to begin a new chapter. I understand this and I don't blame them for it." "There is a capacity for dialogue, for coming together again, and understanding that we probably didn't do things right," he emphasized. A letter detailing this reconciliation will be sent to party members in the coming days.

Two years of agreement with the PP

Garcia insists on defending his decision, giving a positive assessment of the two years of governing with the PP. "Due to the ideological difference, we have prioritized the people, without debating other issues," he explains. In this regard, he asserts that they have given a boost to the "maintenance" of the municipality, such as sidewalks, sewage systems, and rural roads. "We have recovered urban green spaces, with a tree-planting plan, to naturalize certain areas of the municipality," he affirms. He also highlights the construction of "the first bike lane" in the municipality. Regarding language, he maintains that Catalan is the preferred language and that there has been a greater presence of the local language on the municipal radio station and at local festivals.

The relationship with the PP, and specifically with Ferrer, who until now has held the mayoralty, has been "very good." "We've learned together and will continue working side by side," Garcia summarizes. "We hold weekly meetings to keep the information flowing, and that has been very fruitful." In this regard, when he takes office, he will maintain the focus on "maintenance and cleanliness." He has also set himself the challenge of "promoting a housing assessment" and the "heritage inventory," as well as initiating urban planning.