More than a hundred people gathered this Friday on the Born promenade in Palma, called by UGT, to protest against a state agreement in the commerce sector that, according to the union, could mean a reduction in salary and rights for thousands of workers in the Islands.

“It is not a cry of despair, we have time, but we cannot find an apartment to rent in Porreres and we do not want to have to move to another town”. The housing crisis in Mallorca is reaching Pla little by little and it has a face and eyes, and in Porreres there is an example. A single-parent family from Porreres, made up of a mother and daughter, has turned what should have been a conventional advertisement looking for a rental apartment into an original protest publication through which they have wanted to make visible the reality of many families and also young people who find themselves with an increasingly inaccessible real estate market throughout Mallorca, and Pla is no exception.

Overcoming the traditional dependence on El Caserío that marked the sector until the beginning of the century, Menorca's countryside survives the blows of international politics, the concern caused by price increases due to the war in Iran, and the 22% cut in European CAP aid. The change in land ownership into the hands of foreign investors, such as businessman Víctor Madera, has prevented the premature abandonment of dozens of farms and has reinforced the sector's commitment to other types of agricultural exploitation that have given it new momentum.

Prices in the Balearic Islands have risen by 3.6% in March compared to the same month last year due to the war in the Middle East and the increase in fuel costs, according to data from the INE published this Tuesday.

The income tax return campaign for the 2025 tax year began this Wednesday with significant new features in the Balearic Islands, where taxpayers will be able to apply for up to 24 regional deductions, three of which are new.

The income tax declaration campaign for the 2025 fiscal year kicked off this Wednesday with notable news in the Balearic Islands, where taxpayers will be able to apply up to 24 regional deductions, three of which are new.

The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, has announced the Plan Mallorca protects, endowed with 84 million euros, to face the economic and social impact of the war conflict in the Middle East, because "the island institution acts with responsibility, diligence and speed to protect the families, businesses and productive sector of Mallorca".

4,500 homes intended for residents only in Palma and a similar figure in the rest of the Balearic Islands. These are the forecasts of the Palma City Council and the Government to address the housing emergency suffered by citizens. These measures derive mainly from the legislation promoted by Prohens, based on the promotion of strategic residential projects. This is a figure that the sector considers reasonable, but with a key clarification: the majority of these homes will not be built for another five years.

The Majorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM), based on information gathered from hotel associations and affiliated chains, forecasts an average occupancy rate of around 70% for this Easter week, in line with last year's results. These forecasts come in an international context marked by geopolitical uncertainty, although the hotel sector highlighted the stability of tourist demand for Mallorca thanks to the strength of the destination. The hotel opening rate will reach 92%, two percentage points higher than last year, confirming the consolidation of the early season and the progressive expansion of the tourist calendar.

Sources at FEHM insist on the need to "remain cautious" given the current international context, marked by constant changes and a geopolitical situation that requires "continuous monitoring due to its effects on the economy and international mobility." They also reiterate the message conveyed during ITB Berlin, stating that "the sector's wish is for the armed conflicts and human suffering in both the Middle East and Ukraine to end as soon as possible."

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The municipality of Palamós is taking steps to promote a new direct maritime connection with the Balearic Islands, with the aim of strengthening tourist and economic ties between the two territories, according to a report published by The Opinion of ZamoraThe project envisions establishing a regular ferry service linking the Costa Brava with Mallorca without having to transit through Barcelona. According to municipal forecasts, the route could be operational before the end of the current term, with daily departures and timetables designed to accommodate the port's cruise ship activity. The initiative has the support of supra-municipal institutions and is presented as an opportunity to diversify mobility options and attract new visitors. The project still needs to overcome several administrative procedures and finalize operational agreements before becoming a reality. If it materializes, the connection could provide a new boost for the port of Palamós and strengthen its position on maritime routes in the western Mediterranean.

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The Balearic Islands Construction Association warned on Thursday that the already rising prices of construction materials will skyrocket in the coming weeks due to the conflict in Iran. At a press conference, the association's president, Climent Olives, and managing director, Sandra Verger, cautioned that this situation could impact the public housing developments (VPO) planned under the Balearic Government's stimulus plan through the Balearic Housing Institute (Ibavi). "The longer this conflict drags on, the higher prices will rise, and it will be difficult for them to fall afterward," Verger stated, also highlighting the fragility of costs in an unstable geopolitical context. Olives added that, before the outbreak of the conflict, the sector was experiencing a boom that has completely changed in a matter of days.

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The Spanish real estate subsidiary of American magnate Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Spain, is marketing a development of ten housing Luxury properties in the Jonquet neighborhood of Palma, with prices ranging from 1.5 to 8.5 million euros.

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The Balearic agricultural sector has conveyed its concern to the Government regarding the rise in fuel prices due to the Iran-Contra conflict. According to an internal calculation, product prices will increase in approximately one month if they do not receive aid, representatives of the farmers informed the Vice President of the Government, Antoni Costa, this Wednesday. This was explained by Jerónima Bonafé, representative of the Balearic Agri-food Cooperatives, after the meeting, as reported by Europa Press. Bonafé emphasized that fuel prices have increased by more than 60% in less than a month, and also explained that the Government has committed to providing aid to the sector to mitigate the price increases. However, the Government wants to wait to coordinate these measures with the initiatives that the Spanish Executive will announce on Friday after the Council of Ministers meeting.

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Two weeks after the start of the war between Israel and the United States (US) against Iran, The ending is uncertainAlthough the government continues to advocate for a swift resolution to the conflict, this week it began a series of meetings with sectors that could be most affected by the price increases accompanying the war. There is still insufficient official data to estimate the magnitude of the impact. However, currently, everything points to a fuel price increase that is having a ripple effect on multiple sectors: from transportation (exacerbated by the island's isolation) to the cost of groceries, as well as agriculture, travel, and mobility.

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Until the 1970s, one in three workers in the Balearic Islands was employed in industry. The islands manufactured a large part of what they used and even exported to mainland Spain and abroad. Today, the figures are different and show how this sector, considered strategic and essential for creating quality jobs, is practically negligible in the overall economy and continues to lose ground. Tourism has become so dominant that, at best, industry represents 5% of economic activity. According to data from the Balearic Government, which uses less restrictive parameters, there are approximately 6,000 companies. According to the Impulsa Foundation database, the figure is less than 700.

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Shipping is responsible for 33.5% of marine debris, while 32.2% comes from tourism, commerce, and hospitality, according to a new pilot study conducted in the Balearic Islands by the Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza Preservation Foundations. The study reveals a widespread and persistent presence of marine debris. The study is based on two sampling campaigns carried out during the spring and autumn of 2025 at 21 locations across the four islands. Seventy volunteer divers surveyed 136 underwater transects measuring 25 by 4 meters, collecting all types of debris. The main conclusion of the study, after analyzing a total area of ​​16,120 m² of the seabed, is that there is "a widespread presence of debris, predominantly plastic," explained Elisa Langley of Ibiza Preservation.

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The Balearic Islands have increased their installed renewable energy capacity by 10.1% in 2025, rising from a total of 541 MW to 596 MW. This increase allows for a power map of the Islands where almost a quarter (24.4%) comes from renewable sources, the vast majority of which (91.8%) is renewable.

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Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and identified as new head of the Islamic Republic of IranHe reportedly owns a luxury resort in Camp de Mar, Mallorca. This is according to an investigation by Bloomberg, quoted by the newspaper The CountryThe report suggests the property in question is the Steigenberger Hotel & Resort Camp de Mar, and that the assets of Iran's new Supreme Leader extend across several European countries. According to this investigation, Khamenei amassed a fortune of hundreds of millions of euros through a network of investments and real estate holdings managed by intermediaries. These assets reportedly include a golf resort in Mallorca, a hotel in the Austrian Alps, and numerous properties in London.

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The Balearic Islands' food and industrial history is facing a turning point. Following the demise of Agama, the Catalan group Vall Companys has acquired Comercial Vera, a leading name in Mallorcan gourmet food. Founded in 1994 by Manuel Vera, the company has been sold to this meat distribution giant, which boasts an annual turnover exceeding €4.1 billion. Specializing in both domestic and imported meat, the company has been a key supplier for hotels, restaurants, and local businesses, offering a catalog of over 4,000 products and daily delivery services throughout the island. In 2009, Comercial Vera opened a 3,500-square-meter facility equipped with advanced technology for animal waste disposal, processing, and packaging, as well as a 450-square-meter retail space for direct sales. The Vera family will continue their involvement in the food sector by managing a butcher shop in the Olivar market and a restaurant, formerly known as Asador Patxi, in Palma.

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Víctor Madera Núñez (Oviedo, 1961) has been the talk of the town for several years now. The president of Quirón has become the leading magnate of private healthcare in Spain, benefiting from urban development plans to build a private hospital in Madrid as much as he salvages castles, mansions, and estates from ruins across the country. From his native Asturias to the Balearic Islands, where he has already acquired dozens of properties over the last decade. Madera, considered the main landowner in Menorca, has transformed himself into a real estate tycoon since, nine years ago, he sold Quirón Salud, the largest private hospital group in Spain, to the German company Fresenius Helios, the largest healthcare group in Europe. The deal was closed for 5.76 billion euros, of which 450 million went directly to the Asturian doctor. Married and a father of four, he has not even come close to disengaging from this company, of which he is the non-executive chairman. Quirón currently manages more than 80 hospitals and day centers, employing 35,000 people.

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