The local youth wing of Germany's FDP party in Biberach, near Ulm, has raised eyebrows with their ambitious proposal for Germany to purchase the Spanish island of Mallorca. The suggestion, posted on Instagram by the Young Liberals ('Julis'), has drawn attention to this small Swabian chapter of the party that recently lost its parliamentary representation.
In their official communication, the young politicians stated: "We Julis see the acquisition of Mallorca not as a fantasy, but as a strategic investment. With Mallorca, we're not just securing a profitable premium travel destination, but also a strategic location in the Mediterranean." The statement has sparked discussions about the seriousness of the proposal.
The unusual suggestion isn't without precedent in German politics. Approximately 30 years ago, similar calls emerged from German political circles to purchase the island from Spain. At that time, CSU parliamentary representative Dionys Jobst made headlines with the proposal, which the 'Bild' newspaper dubbed "a crazy suggestion" during the summer news lull.
While both Germans and Spaniards largely treated the original proposal as a joke, it did reach the highest levels of Spanish politics, including the Royal House. The story gained worldwide media coverage, which ultimately provided valuable publicity for Mallorca as a tourist destination.
The Biberach Young Liberals further argued: "A fair purchase agreement with Spain would signal peaceful, voluntary and economically sensible territorial transfers in Europe." Their parent party, the FDP, lost its parliamentary representation in the most recent Bundestag election under the leadership of Christian Lindner.