Prohens demands state financing from Sánchez to expand the railway network

PalmThe President of the Spanish Government has called on the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, to sign a railway agreement that would facilitate the financing of rail network expansion projects in Mallorca, such as the addition of trains to Alcudia and Llucmajor. Prohens explained that the Spanish President committed to speaking with the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to make progress in this regard, according to Europa Press after the meeting between Sánchez and Prohens at the Consulate of the Sea.

According to the Prime Minister, Sánchez responded that projects in the islands may encounter "conditions and obstacles" in receiving state funding because subsidies are typically for "long-distance and profitable" lines.

Greater coordination in airport management

The status and management of the islands' airports was another issue discussed by Sánchez and Prohens at Tuesday's meeting. The Prime Minister considered it "good news" that the Spanish Prime Minister had opened the door to reviewing the airport coordination committee to allow for greater government involvement. Prohens indicated that the government is willing to "study this proposal," despite the fact that her demand was for joint management.

Disagreement on migration

The disagreement between Sánchez and Prohens has become clear on the issue of migration. Although the Spanish president "shares the government's diagnosis" of the migration crisis, the distribution of migrant minors who have arrived in the Canary Islands "is not on the table for discussion" and the autonomous communities must comply with it.

"I implore the Spanish government to do everything in its power to prevent the Balearic Islands from becoming the Canary Islands," Prohens stated, pleased that Sánchez mentioned "the evidence that mafias are establishing the Balearic Islands as the main route for irregular immigration." According to the president, between May and the first half of July, more than 2,000 people arrived in the islands, while 916 arrived in the Canary Islands. Furthermore, in three years, the figure of 20,000 migrants arriving by boat to the Balearic Islands could be exceeded.

Regarding the distribution of minors—the Balearic Islands must accommodate 49—the president has told Sánchez that "space is running out" in the regional councils, which, furthermore, "cannot find professionals to care for them." In response to the Spanish president's refusal to reconsider the distribution, Prohens stated that, in addition to appealing to the Constitutional Court, the government "will study all legal avenues" to prevent these 49 minors from arriving in the Balearic Islands.