Two left-wing parties in Mallorca, Més and Esquerra Unida (United Left), are opposed to the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in Palma. The world's largest aircraft carrier is due to arrive in the Bay of Palma on Friday, October 3 and stay until October 8.
Més parliamentary spokesperson, Lluís Apesteguia, says his party has always been against Spain's membership of NATO and regrets the fact that Spanish and Balearic authorities lack the capacity to oppose the presence of the ship. He notes that Spanish "patriots" accept being "treated like servants" by the United States and also accept a president (Donald Trump) who dictates what to do with the budget. "That is cheap patriotism."
Esquerra Unida has previously opposed the presence of US aircraft carriers in Palma. It is even more strongly opposed this time because of the tensions caused by the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The party is demanding that the carrier "passes by".
For PSOE, Iago Negueruela has expressed "pride" in the Spanish Government having vetoed the passage of weapons destined for Israel and in the fact that bases are not being used to aid the conflict. But he isn't opposed to the aircraft carrier coming to Palma, noting that it is a stopover by a ship from a NATO country, "as has happened on numerous occasions".
Partido Popular spokesperson Sebastià Sagreras points out that, "even with Podemos in the government", US aircraft carriers have stopped over in Palma in the past. And he highlights the positive economic benefits that the visit will have.