The Government denies that Cort evicted the encampment of the Plaça d'Espanya and says that it was an "unsanitary" occupation

PalmaThe second vice president of the Government, Antònia Estarellas, denied this Tuesday that the intervention of the Palma Local Police on November 4th at the encampment against real estate speculation in Plaça d'Espanya was an eviction. Estarellas defended that the City Council merely limited itself to removing an occupation of public space that was a nuisance to residents and which, as she assured, generated unsanitary problems.

The vice president responded in this way to the PSIB deputy Mercedes Garrido during the Parliament plenary session, who had described the police action as "illegal" and an "abuse of authority," because she considers that it violated the right to demonstrate of those camping out. Estarellas rejected this interpretation and argued that Cort acted in accordance with municipal ordinances, which, as she said, were being breached by an occupation of public space that was contrary to the rights of the area's residents. "Indefinitely occupying a public space outside of the rules is not legitimate," she stated.

In this regard, she defended that the encampment did not constitute either a meeting or a demonstration protected by the right to protest. The vice president also attacked the Spanish government's Delegation and the new official in charge, Pere Joan Pons, whom she reproached for dedicating himself to opposing the Executive instead of collaborating with the Balearic administrations.

Vox congratulates the Local Police

Vox deputy Sergio Rodríguez also criticized the Delegation's actions and congratulated the Palma Local Police for an intervention he described as "absolutely impeccable." Rodríguez applauded that "Sánchez's militias were prevented from causing disturbances" and warned Pere Joan Pons "not to unpack his bags because he will soon be returning home," in reference to the general elections on November 29th.

Mercedes Garrido insisted that the encampment constituted a legal demonstration protected by law and asserted that this is also the interpretation made by most of the media. The deputy denounced that Cort's action not only violated the right of the people camping to demonstrate, but also the inviolability of the home of the homeless people who had installed themselves in the square.