The PSOE denounces almost 15,000 deregistrations in Palma and demands an investigation in Cort

PalmThe PSOE Palma The Socialist Party has denounced the City Council for carrying out mass deregistrations, which, according to their calculations, have affected 14,893 people between 2024, 2025, and the first two months of 2026. This figure represents a 66% increase compared to 2021 and 2022, and is particularly concerning for a neighborhood like Pere Garau. In response, the Socialists have announced they will demand an internal investigation to clarify the criteria and scope of this practice.

The Socialist spokesperson in the City Council, Xisco DucrósDucrós described the events as "extremely serious" and unprecedented. She stated that "this isn't management, it's a clear strategy of persecution," and warned that removing these people from the municipal register means depriving them of access to basic services like healthcare and education, as well as limiting their right to vote. Ducrós maintains that this policy could also have a direct impact on municipal political representation, since the loss of registered residents could translate into fewer councilors. Martínez is making it impossible to live in Palma for those facing the greatest difficulties and, "instead of proposing solutions, is expelling them from their own city." 15,000 fewer registered residents could mean up to three fewer councilors. The Socialists link this increase in deregistration to the political context of recent months, marked by Vox's repeated demands for a "purge" of the municipal register. They also point to recent decisions by the governing team, such as the controversial request by the Social Services department for lists of people in situations of social emergency, with the aim of reviewing their registration status.

This request, promoted by the councilwoman Lourdes RocaThe measure generated controversy because it is unprecedented and affects particularly vulnerable groups. Several opposition voices warned that this initiative could lead to the removal of at-risk individuals from the municipal register, which the PSOE now believes is consistent with the increase in deregistrations detected. "Human rights in Palma cannot depend on the whim of a mayor," concluded Ducrós, who called for an immediate investigation.

Data

The PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) in Palma obtained access to the census data through an information request after detecting a significant increase in cancellations at the behest of the Palma City Council (Cort). The data, broken down by year, is as follows:

• 2021: 5,406
• 2022: 3,533
• 2023: 2,614
• 2024: 6,475
• 2025: 7,339
• 2026 (until February): 1,079

Thus, in 2024, the number of cancellations almost tripled compared to 2023 and almost doubled compared to 2022. In 2026, in just two months, the number of cancellations almost reached half of the total for 2023.

"The voter registry is a living thing"

Regarding the removal of almost 7,500 people from the municipal register in the last year, the mayor explained that the register "is a living document" and that public administrations have an obligation to update it. These removals from the register, Martínez explained, can be carried out automatically or at the request of property owners, which is the most common scenario. "We've even found cases where 15 people are registered at the same address because historically, a review hasn't been done," he offered as an example. He also stated that the national government has removed approximately 5,000 people who were registered in Palma, but that he doesn't know the reasons. "I'd like to know the basis for this decision and where these people were registered, or not," he stated. He added that although no additional inspection resources were deployed to prevent registration fraud, they continued to follow all legal procedures.