<![CDATA[Ara Balears in English - PP]]> 10 <![CDATA[Jaime Martínez invites Felipe VI to the 800th anniversary of the conquest of James I: "He is also the king of Mallorca"]]>

The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has invited King Felipe VI to the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the conquest of Mallorca by Jaume I, which will take place in 2029. The monarch has held meetings with the main authorities of the Balearic Islands this Friday at the Almudaina Palace in Palma. As explained in statements to the media, the mayor took advantage of the meeting to extend the invitation to the monarch. "He is also the King of Mallorca," he justified.

]]> <![CDATA[Prohens speaks of overcrowding with Felipe VI and attributes the "uncontrolled growth" of tourism to Armengol]]>

Mass tourism has been one of the issues that President Marga Prohens discussed this Friday with King Felipe VI, who received the authorities of the Balearic Islands at the Royal Palace of Almudaina in Palma. "We mentioned that I understand the unease of a part of the population with the tourist growth that in the last eight years was absolutely out of control: 115,000 places in eight years," said the president, who attributes the responsibility for tourist saturation to the governments of Francina Armengol.

]]> <![CDATA[The beach monitoring announced by the Government remains pending]]>

One of the latest announcements by the Government to curb overcrowding took place at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) last January. President Marga Prohens assured that this summer an application would be launched to monitor beach occupancy. The operation consisted of placing sensors in a hundred locations. It is now the end of July and this project has not yet started. Government sources explain that the application is in beta format and undergoing internal testing, and they assure that it will be ready before the season ends.

]]> <![CDATA[Shit crossing the sea]]> The Popular Party continues to be convinced – and often states it in the declarations of its leaders – that environmental policies are a brake on the economy. In terms of climate emergency, contrary to all the evidence we are already suffering, they remain at the point where sports commentator M. Rajoy left it when he spoke to us about his denialist cousin. It happens that this has direct consequences on citizens and the places where we live. For example, the cuts and oversights in environmental safety have caused deaths and disappearances in the flood in the Valencian Country and, recently, in the fires in Almeria. Climate change and its consequences is or should be one of the top priorities of governments, whether state, autonomous or municipal. Our right prefers to relativize it, and often, in relation to environmental policies, they come out with frivolities and jokes.A frivolity is that the Consell d'Eivissa, in a year like 2026, has not even begun to prepare a waste plan that can be called as such and that is in line with the European Union's directives in this matter, based on the precepts of the circular economy. Quite the contrary, Ibiza (due to the neglect of its rulers) separates less and recycles fewer waste. To make matters worse, the Ca na Putxa landfill is now ending its useful life cycle, which means an accumulation of waste and refuse that the oversaturated island of Ibiza cannot cope with. Solution from our authorities: we will take all this material to Mallorca and burn it there. We will transport it by boat and, once in Mallorca, in trucks that will circulate at night, "so as not to disturb traffic". Apparently, our rulers must not travel much at night, in the summer, on the Mallorcan roads. It is a magnificent idea: we will take the shit – we are talking about it – from a overflowing island to the neighboring island, also overflowing, but larger. As denounced by the platform against the transfer of waste from Ibiza (formed by 17 neighborhood and environmental organizations, established at the Son Sardina neighborhood center), the effects of this maneuver could be disastrous at all levels. We are talking about 80,000 (eighty thousand) tons of waste per year to be incinerated, in addition to the problems that Mallorca already has in managing its own waste: besides pollution and bad smells, public health problems can arise. The first transfer has already been made, not without last-minute setbacks.A bit of a joke, when the current government of the Consell de Mallorca was formed, was to appoint an environmental denier like Pedro Bestard, from Vox, as Minister of the Environment. Like when Mazón appointed a Francoist bullfighter as Minister of Culture of the Valencian Generalitat. These are things that amuse our right-wing leaders, but they are no longer so funny when they are applied to real management. Apart from his problems with official cars, Bestard is a person whose capacity to assume public responsibilities is reasonably questionable. Leaving a strategic social policy like the Environment under the supervision of someone like him, and such a delicate job as the transport of 80,000 tons of waste annually from Ibiza to Mallorca, is worse than recklessness. It is a demonstration of ineptitude that could have undesirable consequences, precisely for the environment and for people. And naturally, transparency in these waste transports is essential: exactly who is paid what amounts, when, how, and for what. We know ourselves.

]]> <![CDATA[The PP wants to return the migrants who arrive swimming in hot water]]>

The PP has announced that it will present a bill in Congress to amend the Immigration Law so that migrants arriving by swimming to Ceuta and Melilla can be returned immediately. MEP and Deputy Secretary of the PP, Alma Ezcurra, explained that the party will propose this change following the Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the immediate return of migrants, but allows those made at border containment elements, such as fences.

]]> <![CDATA[MORE accuses the PP of protecting vulture funds and promoting, even more, real estate speculation]]>

MÉS per Palma denounces that the Partit Popular government in Cort has decided to open the door to companies and investment funds being able to buy subsidized housing. This decision, in their opinion, turns protected housing into "a new business for large speculators and directly harms the citizens of Palma". As they detailed at a press conference, until now, this subsidized housing was reserved for families who needed a home to live in.

]]> <![CDATA[El Trenc is not touched... by a 'like']]> Last Sunday, July 5, we lived another historic day. El Trenc must not be touched. Not before, not now, not ever. On the way there, past Son Catlar, a devastating string of chalets follows every two quarters, all cut from the same pattern. Already in La Ràpita, the terraced houses link up so cyclically that they seem infinite. Cranes are in operation. And in between, plots of land in a chapel waiting patiently for the arrival of developers while they see their immediate surroundings destroyed. But it seems even that is not enough.10,000 people joined hands on the beach of La Ràpita. And of course, when so many people gather, it's normal for many things to happen. The most striking, without a doubt, was the presence of Francisca Porquer, the mayor of Campos, who wanted to be physically present at the gathering. She could have chosen to blend in with the crowd, or to stand in the front row and listen carefully to the reading. But it seems the mayor is naturally meddlesome and wanted to place herself right next to Sebastià Alzamora and Tonina Siquier during the reading of the manifesto. We already knew that in Campos they are close-knit, but not that they had such an eager mayor. Like.The machine gun nests painted with verses that have served as a backdrop for thousands of ‘selfies’ in recent years, now appeared with graffiti in favor of the defense of this natural space as valuable as it is emblematic. It is already known that the PP and Vox are parties very sensitive to historical memory and their followers have raised hell over these acts which they have described as vandalism. In fact, our public television only found it pertinent to publish a short video with the graffiti, without mentioning that exactly 10,000 Majorcans had passed by there to form a human chain for nothing. Like.And even more things happened, such as the presence of Madò Farta, this Mallorcan peasant woman, with a skirt, bodice and overskirt and a plastic skull face that looks like it was bought at a Chinese bazaar, who walks in front of the Cathedral, sings La Balanguera and cleans the dirt from the Mallorcan beaches. The protesting bathers recognized her and petted her. Many knew her from the Instagram network, where with more than 5,000 followers she has become visible and viral. Like.But neither the Obregonian performance of Mayor Porquer, nor the graffiti on the bunkers that served as a finger to avoid looking at the moon, nor the originally rebellious Mallorca of Madò Farta managed to alleviate the most important absence of the day. We did not expect President Prohens, so sure of wanting to protect Trenc. Nor Councillor Simonet, who warned us with a funny cap from the water that the left is a manipulative and malevolent entity.The youth was missing. There were plenty of historic, endearing, gray-haired, hat-wearing, pot-bellied, and wrinkled people. More or less everyone greeted each other. It is a singular community, this one of counter-current Mallorca that feels so comfortable when it comes to firmly opposing the policies of the Mallorcan right. Gabriel Cañellas, Jaume Matas, José Ramón Bauzá, and now Marga Prohens, are people before whom it has always been good to stand up.But where were the young people? Not the forty-somethings (each time there are people who feel young at 40), nor the thirty-somethings. Where were the 20-year-olds who are supposed to change tomorrow's world? Where were the university and high school kids who are starting to walk within the world of militancy and revolution? It would be very easy for the writer to fall into the framework of customs and caricature. We could say ‘selfie’, ‘swimming pool’, ‘sailboat’, ‘bikini’, ‘Much’ and ‘wow’. We could also say ‘mediterraneously’, to encompass it all. Or ‘the island’, to deconstruct ourselves definitively. But we won't say it.The physiognomy of Mallorca has changed from green to blue. And so have the interests and idiosyncrasies of Majorcans. Beyond that, however, there is a tangible generational bias. 65% of young people in Mallorca are "little" or "not at all" interested in institutional politics. Only 10% of young islanders have participated in demonstrations and protest events in the last year. It is perceived that continuous militancy (periodic assemblies, maintenance of structures, organization of actions and events of various kinds, payment of fees...) is not used today. On the other hand, this protest is raised on social networks, either by publishing directly, or by republishing or liking. And if they have to participate in anything outside of virtuality, they do so punctually and always from outside any organizational structure.The delay we all have is whether this new form of militancy will be enough to confront the policies of the right in the country and the world, to position ourselves forcefully against actions that we may consider excessive, unjust, racist, destructive of the territory, anti-Mallorcan, and xenophobic. Or if we are facing another tool of the system to keep us fooled in front of screens and far from the reality that crushes us every day.

]]> <![CDATA[Three years governing for the people from here]]> Citizens and citizens of the Balearic Islands, this week marks three years since my investiture and taking of office as president of this Autonomous Community, of this immense honor that I have thanks to the trust of a broad majority of citizens, who three years ago called for a change in policies and in the way of doing politics in these Islands. A change from centrality, from moderation, from good sense and for the people from here.After three intense years and a lot – a lot – of work, I am aware that there is still a lot to do, I am aware of the challenges ahead of us, and I am aware of the concerns of the families of these Islands, and I will not fall into conformity, self-satisfaction, or indifference. Because we cannot afford it, and, therefore, my commitment is to give it my all.With these lines I want to share with all of you my balance of these three years of work, of these three years of legislature, which I believe can be summarized mainly in three evidences.The first, what has been my obsession since day one: the fulfillment of the given word. Because that's how they taught me at home, the value of the given word, to fulfill what is promised. The first commitment fulfilled was to form a government on my own. A promise that no one believed in, that some saw as impossible and even mocked. But I said that if I had a sufficient majority of citizens, I would do so. The citizens responded, and I delivered. And, obviously, governing in a minority has not been easy, but this has allowed us to set the tone and pace, and to prevent the instability that has been experienced in Parliament from ever being transferred to the Government.From that moment on, we have not only not crossed any of our red lines, but we have fulfilled and launched 95% of our government program. 10 days later we began to lower taxes with the elimination of the inheritance tax —which has already benefited more than 35,000 families— and with the elimination or bonus of the tax for the purchase of the first home, which has benefited more than 5,000 young people. 50 days later we fulfilled by making the free education for the entire stage from 0 to 3 years a reality, which today benefits more than 15,000 families. 100 days later we approved the Royal Decree-Law on residential emergency, as a first package of measures to address the housing challenge. And so we have been fulfilling our program for three years, with the zero quota for the self-employed, the recovery of numerical grades, more hours of mathematics and languages, the plan to attract health professionals, the Work-Life Balance Law, the Simplification Law, the Coastal Law, as well as so many and so many measures that we included in our program and that today are a reality.Secondly, the fact that the script predicted by the left-wing parties has not been fulfilled, that the discourse of fear of cuts in public services, cuts in rights, and social tension has not been fulfilled. On the contrary, for three years we have allocated more resources than ever to our public services; we have improved the conditions of our healthcare professionals, our teachers, and all our public employees; we have advanced in new rights, such as aid for ALS patients, 24-hour care for pediatric palliative care, free adapted leisure for children with disabilities, the price limit for school canteens and psychologists in classrooms and health centers, among other advances.Everyone, through dialogue and agreement. Because we are a government of pacts and understanding, as demonstrated by the achievement of such important agreements as the Pact for Sustainability, the Pact for Health, as well as the Pact for the Legislature with the public service board, the agreement for the recovery of the healthcare professional career, and the Pact for Marine Conservation.And, finally, an evidence of which, as I began by saying, I am fully aware: that there is a lot of work to be done. We were faced with a poisoned inheritance, with soaring housing prices, with the Islands at their limit, the result of 115,000 tourist places authorized in eight years, and with public services strained by a population growth pattern that is today absolutely unsustainable. During these three years we have laid the foundations to change course, changing laws, planning and allocating resources, because there are no magic solutions and the situation does not change in a day, but thanks to our different laws we have more than 10,000 affordable homes in process; affordable homes and for the local people, among which there are more than 1,000 of public promotion, the works of which will begin this legislature. And, of course, we are talking about housing at affordable prices, with prices between 30% and 50% below market price and for the local people, with at least 5 years of residence. Because it is about housing for those who already live in the Balearic Islands.Although there is still a long way to go for it to reach citizens, we are beginning to see signs of a change in trend with the reactivation of multi-family housing development, with a 60% increase in one year, and which for two years now has again surpassed single-family homes, that is, more apartments than houses, according to the latest data from the College of Technical Architects and Surveyors. Also with a 33% decrease in housing purchases by foreign citizens, according to data from the College of Notaries. Because now, housing development is once again oriented towards affordable housing and for local people.And we are working to transform our economy and move from growth in volume to growth in value, a model that bets on the diversification of our economy towards innovation and knowledge, as we have done with the ParcBit boost plan and the Law for the acceleration of strategic projects, and with a clear strategy of tourism containment, which sets zero growth for new tourist places, prohibits new tourist apartments, and agrees to reduce the number of cruise passengers, the purchase of public land to protect our natural spaces. And we will end the legislature with the entry of rental tourist vehicles and cars limited to the four islands. Because yes, we have reached the limit.We must move towards a model that does not require the continuous recruitment of workers from outside, because we have to change the pattern of population growth. As we also need to put a stop to the continuous arrival of irregular immigration to our Islands. Because we have always been a land of welcome, but we need immigration not only linked to a work contract, but one that also takes into account the integration capacity of our land, always demanding respect for our laws and values. Otherwise, the result is that we see how the physiognomy of our towns and neighborhoods is becoming blurred. No, not everyone fits here.We are the Government that most resembles the people of this land, a Government that makes decisions with common sense and tranquility, that does not hide problems in drawers. We have come to roll up our sleeves to solve the structural problems of these Islands.From here on, some policies need a final push and others need to consolidate over time to bear fruit. And with this objective we will work this coming year, working hard to respond to the main concerns of citizens, to broaden their trust and to achieve a majority of stability that allows us to continue with the change from centrality, from moderation, from common sense and governing thinking only of the people here.

]]> <![CDATA[Galmés "does not share" Bestard's private use of cars but keeps him in office]]>

The vice-president of the Consell de Mallorca Pedro Bestard (Vox) used three cars for his exclusive use throughout his term, lied about their signage, and refueled on days when he had no agenda, according to technicians' reports. according to technicians' reports. But the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés, will keep him in office. "I do not share Mr. Bestard's conduct, but a report prepared by the general secretary and the general auditor concludes that there has been no irregularity," he assured in an extraordinary plenary session this Thursday.

]]> <![CDATA[The councils maintain the option of transporting Ibiza's waste in bulk]]>

Although the Consell d'Eivissa has renounced sending bulk waste to Mallorca after protests from residents and the GOB, this has not been made official in the agreement. With seven days to go before the transfer begins, the definitive document signed by the Pitiusa institution and the Consell de Mallorca has not been modified, but rather maintains and formalizes the option of transporting part of the waste in bulk. This possibility was introduced after the institution presided over by Llorenç Galmés agreed to lower the environmental requirements for the transfer, due to Ibiza's technical difficulties. Sources from the Consell d'Eivissa justify that, since it is a pilot test, the fine print of the contract can be modified according to the needs of each moment.

]]> <![CDATA[The Government distances itself from Feijóo's proposal to lower the salary of workers on leave]]>

The Minister of Labour, Catalina Cabrer, has distanced herself from the words of the leader of theopposition and national president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, that this Tuesday said that absenteeism is a "cancer" and proposed that workers on sick leave earn less. In a press conference, the minister considered that, although it is a state issue, "a worker who has contributed, works and is ill must have the entire system that accompanies them in their recovery period".

]]> <![CDATA[The transfer of waste from Ibiza to Mallorca will begin next July 16]]>

The transfer of waste from Ibiza to Mallorca begins next July 16. As reported by the second vice-president and Minister of Environment of the Consell de Mallorca, Pedro Bestard, the first shipment will consist of seven trucks with 24 tons of waste each. In this way, a total of approximately 3,000 tons will be transferred each month.

]]> <![CDATA[The controversies of the mayoress of Trenc who declared Damm 'persona non grata']]>

The the mayor of Campos, Francisca Porquer (PP), has caused the week's controversy after bursting in on the reading of the manifesto Sunday environmentalist at Es Trenc (Mallorca). Behavior that even President Marga Prohens criticized him. But it is not the first time that Porquer has been at the center of the storm. These are some of the media moments that the mayor has starred in.

]]> <![CDATA[The Balearic PP: "No problem if the repeal of the Memory Law is suspended"]]>

The Balearic PP is indifferent to the suspension of the repeal of the Law of Democratic Memory by the Constitutional Court (TC). Sources from the parliamentary group have recalled that the PP voted in favor of the repeal to please Vox in exchange for its support for the 2025 budgets. "We always stated the same, that for us the repeal was not a priority and that it was also covered by state law," assures the party: "The PP fulfilled its agreements, and from here on out, no problem that the repeal has been suspended until the TC definitively rules on it".

]]> <![CDATA[The mayoress who burst into the environmental protest at Trenc: "She was at an event for sclerosis and was already wearing a bikini"]]>

The massive human chain that formed on Sunday on Trenc beach (Mallorca) to demand the conservation of one of the most emblematic natural spaces of the Islands had an unexpected protagonist. The mayoress of the municipality of Campos, Francisca Porquer (PP), burst into the reading of the manifesto and tried to make critical statements about the protest. A behavior that has even been regretted by President Marga Prohens. "I was at an event for multiple sclerosis and I was already wearing a bikini; if not, I wouldn't have gone", she justifies in statements to ARA Balears, in which she rejects accusations of boycotting. "My intention was not to provoke, but to listen", she assures.

]]> <![CDATA["If the slogan is 'El Trenc is not to be touched', I join in"]]>

Summer once again puts Marga Prohens (Campos, 1982) before the main challenge of her term: tourist saturation. Two years after she promised "brave" containment measures, the street is mobilizing again. She speaks to ARA Balears in her office at the Consulate, where she defends the Executive's management.

]]> <![CDATA[The omnibus law also lowers environmental controls on rural land and sanctions on quarries]]>

The Omnibus Law also lowers the requirements for building facilities in rural land. The norm, which modifies more than 50 laws, mainly environmental and territorial management, excludes complementary activities of the primary sector for the transformation and direct sale of products from the same agricultural holdings from the simplified environmental assessment procedure.

]]> <![CDATA[Ibiza has already tendered the transfer of waste awaiting Mallorca to sign the agreement]]>

The Consell d'Eivissa has already tendered and awarded the waste transfer and is awaiting the Consell de Mallorca to definitively sign the agreement. This is confirmed by sources from the island institution to ARA Balears. They explain that the service has been awarded to UTE GIREF, which manages the Ca na Putxa waste plant, in compliance with the additional provision that allows the pilot plan to be initiated, which was definitively approved with the Omnibus Law.

]]> <![CDATA[The PP, the PSOE and Sumar approve in Congress an initiative that rejects expanding the capacity of Ibiza airport]]>

The mixed commission on island status of Congress and the Senate approved this Tuesday an initiative presented by the deputy of MÉS per Mallorca and MÉS per Menorca in the Plurinational Group Sumar, Vicenç Vidal, which expresses the rejection of any expansion of the capacity of Ibiza airport.

]]> <![CDATA[Speed limits and streamlining of procedures: the Government sends the Coastal Law to Parliament]]>

The Governing Council has approved this Thursday the draft law on the regulation, protection, and comprehensive management of the coastline of the Balearic Islands. This was announced by the president Marga Prohens, and the Minister of the Sea, Juan Manuel Lafuente, at a press conference in Ibiza. As reported by Europa Press, the regulations provide for the protection of traditional constructions in these areas, the limitation of the speed of boats and the streamlining of procedures.

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