Political to-ing and fro-ing
It was another week of poltical to-ing and fro-ing. One moment this, one moment that as the three parties involved in forming administrations for the Balearic regional government and the islands’ councils negotiated.
On Tuesday, it was unclear as to whether one of these parties - Podemos - would form part of the government. We reported that things would not be clear until Saturday as Podemos were saying they had to run any agreements past their citizens’ assemblies. By Thursday, however, all the uncertainty seemed to have disappeared.
Francina Armengol of PSOE was set to become the first female president of the Balearics, Podemos and Més would support her investiture, and Podemos were to hold the position of president of the Balearic parliament. It was important that agreement should have been reached as the new parliament was to be sworn in on Thursday morning. David Abril said that failure to have arrived at agreement would have presented a “poor image” of the parties.
By Friday, however, there was a complication. Més were now saying that their support for the investiture was linked to negotiations regarding the councils in Majorca and Minorca and yesterday we reported that Més (David Abril again) had expressly stated that his party were seeking the presidency of both councils, a stance which did rather contrast with their chief negotiator and presidential candidate, Miquel Ensenyat. The story, as they say, continues.
Commenting on all this on Friday, Humphrey Carter wondered if three was a crowd, noting the “arguing and bartering for positions and power” without there still being a guarantee that Armengol would receive the necessary support for her investiture. Frank Leavers, on Wednesday, confessed to a certain confusion regarding parties with names he had never knew existed.
Things can indeed be confusing, though at least in Palma, as reported on Wednesday, the threesome of PSOE, Més and Podemos was getting down to work at the city’s council
Some key points of the programme for the council came out, but there was one particular issue which caused surprise: there was to not be a specific councillor tourism who would be represented on the council’s governing committee. Was the administration as clear to the “centrality of tourism in Palma” as it was claiming?
Police operations
With high summer approaching, the annual summer security operation - to start on 1 July - was announced by the national government. The Balearics will be one region where additional police presence will be particularly noticeable. This will be increased even more if King Felipe and his family decide to holiday in Majorca this summer. At present, it is not clear if they will, the new mayor of Palma, José Hila, saying that he would be delighted were they to but adding that this was a private matter for the royal family to decide.
In Magalluf, Guardia Civil divers were called to a scene near Torrenova on Thursday. A body had been found in the sea. Yesterday we reported on the flood of tributes for 21-year-old Jamie Todd. The Guardia were saying that they suspected it was an accidental death as there were no signs of foul play.
Russell Stevens
Russell Stevens, who tragically died in a car accident a fortnight ago, was remembered in the pages of the paper last week. On Sunday, Nick Jones recalled a “much-loved and well-known character” who had been on his way to an important event in aid of children’s charities. A celebration of his life was held at Palma’s Boathouse for the founder of the Driving Mallorca Car Club, David Whitney writing that a minute’s silence was broken by cars revving up their engines in his honour
War veterans
British war veterans continue to be blessed by the generosity of the Not Forgotten Association and the British owner of a Pollensa finca who throws her property open to veterans who come to the island for well-earned breaks away from treatment and rehabilitation. And on Wednesday, Humphrey Carter reported on the annual garden party at Buckingham Palace that the association holds. He had been invited “in recognition of the work that is being done here in Majorca to help wounded veterans and their partners”.