The mayor of Bunyola condemns the insults to the councilor, but holds him responsible: "He shouldn't have gotten involved"

PalmaThe mayoress of Bunyola, Marian Serralta, has condemned the insults and any violent attitude that allegedly occurred against the councilor of Esquerra Oberta, Joan Luna, although she said she was not present in the square at the time of the events and therefore cannot confirm what happened. "I wasn't there and I can't verify what happened, but if it really happened, I condemn it," Serralta stated. The mayoress insisted that "violence and insults cannot be tolerated, by anyone towards anyone."

However, she considered that the councilor "got himself into something he shouldn't have" by publishing his opinion on social networks about an alleged irregular occupation of public space by an establishment in the square. In this regard, she denied that there was any irregularity and explained that the television installed to watch the match was small and fixed to the facade of the premises, so it did not occupy public space. Likewise, she pointed out that, if the criticism referred to the terrace, it had the corresponding municipal authorization.

"What happened shouldn't have happened and it's not right, but he also needs to be a bit careful," she pointed out. Regarding the possible apologies from the government team that the councilor's party, EOB, requested following the events, the mayoress made it clear that they will not occur. "I don't have to apologize to anyone, because I haven't done anything," she stated.

When asked about the presence of a flag with the Cross of Burgundy during the celebration, a symbol currently used by some far-right groups, Serralta assured that she had to look up what it represented, as she did not know. In this regard, she downplayed its display and pointed out that it was young people who "surely also don't know what it means".

"Go suck it in Spain, you fucking red"

The statements from the mayoress come after the councilor and spokesperson for Esquerra Oberta Bunyola, Joan Luna, reported being the victim of an attack with pyrotechnic devices against his home after the victory of the Spanish team and their qualification for the World Cup final.

According to the political party, the events occurred hours after Luna published a post on his social networks criticizing the management of the Popular Party's government team regarding the occupation of public space by an establishment in the square and the broadcasting of the Spanish team's matches. In the publication, the councilor denounced that the establishment had irregularly occupied a public space and had installed screens to watch the matches without, according to him, having the corresponding municipal permits. He also stated that, during the ordinary plenary session in July, he had asked the government team if any special authorization had been granted and that the response had been negative.

Luna also explained that, before publishing the statement, he had contacted the owner of the bar to inform them of the complaints received from several neighbors and suggest they apply for a special permit from the City Council. As there was no registered request, according to his statement, he decided to make his complaint public, in which he accused the government team of favoring this business and pointed out that the events could constitute an alleged crime of prevarication.

According to the councilor's account included in the complaint, after the match, a group of young people celebrating the Spanish team's victory in Bunyola square began to direct political and homophobic insults at him, among which, he assures, shouts such as "Go fuck yourself in Spain, you piece of shit red" could be heard.

Subsequently, still according to the complaint filed with the Civil Guard, some of the participants went to his private residence, where they allegedly threw several pyrotechnic devices while shouting "Luna, son of a bitch." The councilor filed a complaint and stated that he had been able to identify at least one of the alleged perpetrators.

In statements released by Esquerra Oberta Bunyola, Luna stated that "we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by a far-right group that seeks to claim everyone's square for themselves". The party also regretted that flags with the Cross of Burgundy were displayed during the celebration.

The spokesperson also politically held the government team responsible for the situation experienced. In this regard, he considered that their actions had contributed to the climate that, according to him, led to the reported aggression. "It would be surprising to receive a public apology from the government team, although it would be the least they should do," he stated.