PP TAKES THE INITIATIVE

THE centre right Partido Popular party have stolen the march on the Balearic government in the battle over cheaper and more reliable domestic flights for the region. While the Balearic left wing coalition has been locked in a dispute with the PP central government in Madrid, yesterday, Balearic PP opposition senators tabled a motion in the Senate that domestic and inter-island flights be declared a public service, one of the Balearic government's very own proposals. PP Balearic Senator Rosa Estaras said that now the secretary of state for Development has to put the proposal, which will be tabled for debate in two weeks, to the European Union. Estaras, claiming that the Balearic government has never made an official application to Madrid, said that she is sure that inter-island flights will be declared a public service as part of a first phase and then domestic flights to and from the mainland would probably be included in a second phase. The PP's Balearic parliamentary spokesperson, Joan Flaquer, said in Palma that such a declaration will lead to more frequent and regular flights and a reduction in air fares, especially on inter-island flights, which per kilometre, are some of the most expensive in Europe.