The politics of smoke

PalmAffordable housing, a shift in the tourism model, sustainability, major infrastructure projects... The politics of empty promises knows no political affiliation, and every institution makes grand announcements that never materialize. Seeking headline-grabbing impact has become a governing strategy, and we find ourselves facing political leaders who confuse rhetoric with action. Faced with structural problems, we are presented with promises of immediate impact as a solution. But the complexity of reality ultimately undermines these promises. "With social media, traditional media outlets don't control the media agenda as much, which creates a need for constant communication," comments political scientist Guillermo Bezzina. Every organization has its communications department, whose mission is to "dominate the news agenda," sometimes to "cover up a lack of political action." "If you don't communicate, it seems like you're not doing anything. But many things are long-term, and it's difficult to implement a flagship policy within a single legislative term," he adds, also emphasizing that this situation is not unique to the Balearic Islands but rather a general trend.

Bezzina reminds us that everything "has consequences for the public." "It generates a lack of trust in the functioning of institutions and politics. If you don't improve living conditions, you cause dissatisfaction," he says. In this way, politics no longer connects with citizens who struggle "to make ends meet."

We analyze some examples of empty promises from the last two legislatures, divided into four categories: housing, tourism, mobility, and infrastructure. Some announcements couldn't be made, others were much more difficult than they seemed, and some will never be implemented, leaving only a record of their existence in the archives.

Housing

Expropriations, thousands of apartments, and initiatives of dubious success

Former Minister of Mobility and Housing, Marc Pons, announced in March 2019 that he had 1,039 apartments temporarily expropriated from large landlords for social housing. Two and a half years later, the true impact of this measure by the Pacte government became clear when it was revealed that the temporary expropriation process had resulted in only 16 homes, 1,023 fewer than initially announced.

The Safe Rental program of the government of Marga Prohens, which began in November 2014, was also supposed to acquire thousands of apartments, specifically between 2,000 and 3,000 – and this was only the first phase. As with the expropriations, the final figure was reduced to 2: only 59 apartments had been acquired – according to data from the Ministry of Housing, published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOPIB) on December 30.

The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, from the People's Party (PP), went even further, announcing that 20,000 new apartments would be built in the city thanks to several government regulations, including the Simplification Law. Currently, three strategic residential projects are in the planning stages, which, if successful, will result in 6,000 apartments. However, these homes will not be completed during this term.

It remains to be seen what will happen with the 1,213 new public housing units that Prohens announced in December. The president stated that 90% of these units—1,097 apartments—are supposed to begin construction this year.

Tourism

Agreements, restraint, and prohibitions that never arrive

Agreements have been a welcome treat for Armengol and Prohens. The government led by the Socialist launched the Pact for Reactivation, and this legislature has seen the Pact for Sustainability. Both have yielded the same result: no significant measures beyond photo ops and press headlines about the need for a change of course that never materializes.

"The Pact for Sustainability has been all smoke and mirrors," laments Jaume Garau, spokesperson for the Civil Society Forum. This organization abandoned the initiative due to its poor functioning and lack of transparency—as did GOB, OCB, EAPN, and the Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Palma. Now, "once it became clear that it wasn't possible, they've invented the story of containment," adds Garau, also criticizing that "it's all a media and communications construct that doesn't connect with reality, but allows them to quell the protests." Housing and tourism are the two areas that have defined the politics of smoke and mirrors in recent years, according to GOB spokesperson Margalida Ramis. "It's a strategy to seize control of the game. They're disputing the narrative. And they have no intention of listening: that's the biggest farce in this whole story," she says. The Armengol government's plan to purchase obsolete hotel rooms has also fallen by the wayside, an initiative for which the Socialist leader claimed 10 million euros would be invested. The case of Palma is curious, because the mayor, Jaime Martínez, announced twice, in May 2024 and October 2025, that he would prohibit tourist rentals in the city—the second time, as if he had never said it before—a measure that has not been implemented. ARA Baleares has been asking the Palma City Council's communications office for an update on this initiative for the past two weeks. The only response this media outlet has received is: "I'm looking into it."

"It's all just empty words. They have no intention of doing this. Behind the PP's announcements, there are no limits on tourism or measures to guarantee affordable housing," criticizes Neus Truyol, spokesperson for MÁS per Palma in Cort.

Mobility

Mallorca, bagged and without a tram

The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, has repeatedly assured the public since taking office that he will provide Mallorca with the necessary funds, but drivers continue to experience long traffic jams at the entrances to Palma, for example, every morning. He has also been unable to limit the number of vehicles entering the island, despite the announcement to that effect. With Vox as a partner in the island institution, it is highly likely that this limitation will be another measure that falls by the wayside.

There is also no tram service to Son Espases, even though in 2020 the progressive government guaranteed the 40,000 daily users projected from Plaça d'Espanya in just 15 minutes. The same has happened with the Levante train line, whose construction was supposed to begin in 2023 and which had a budget of 30 million euros.

Infrastructure

The megalomaniacal project to transform the Gesa building

An underground parking garage for 700 cars, the Municipal Institute of Art, Palma's central library, a media center, the municipal archives, the headquarters of 'Palma Culture & Innovation Bay', restaurants, green spaces... The Gesa building envisioned by the mayor of Palma is currently undergoing only one change: the construction of luxury buildings, intended to mask the humble, working-class character of this part of the city.

The city's ambitions also include the Son Ferriol fairgrounds, where 8,000 citizens will enjoy nearly 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, if this infrastructure is ever built. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.

But the previous term also saw projects aimed at revitalizing certain areas of Palma, such as the cultural and creative center that Antoni Noguera (MÁS per Palma) announced for the old prison.

At the regional level, does anyone remember that birthing center that Armengol announced in SonEspases Vell? An investment of 2.1 million euros was supposed to bring to fruition a pioneering initiative that would offer "a respectful environment that conveyed security, warmth, and serenity." For the time being, women in the Balearic Islands will have to settle for a more conventional setting, because the center never materialized.