Baltasar Picornell, the Podemos parliamentary deputy who was recently elected as the new president (speaker) of the Balearic parliament, says that he will be paying a fine of 601 euros that was imposed on him for "resisting the Guardia Civil" during a protest in Fornalutx last year against the annual "correbou" (bull-run).
Picornell explains that he has no regrets for what occurred but that he would not now repeat it. "It's clear that I am now the president of parliament, so I would not act in the same way and take part in the protest. But when I did take part, I was just a Podemos deputy with one foot on the streets and the other in the institutions."
He stresses that he remains committed to animal welfare and to the elimination of the mistreatment of animals. However, he is aware of the position he now holds, one that requires him to represent all citizens of the Balearics. He adds, though, that he is critical of the law on citizen security that was passed by the Partido Popular (popularly referred to as the gag law) and which results in freedom of expression and the freedom to protest being questioned.