A lot has happened in Mallorca since the regional elections in May 2023. With Marga Prohens at the top of the Partido Popular (PP) is steering the island in a new political direction. However, the path is not free of stumbling blocks - the cooperation with the right-wing populist Vox party in particular is a source of controversy. An overview of what has been achieved and the challenges that lie ahead for the government.
A cabinet with a focus on the coast and tourism
Marga Prohens, the first woman to head the Balearic Islands government, has set clear priorities during her time in office. Her cabinet includes a newly created Ministry for Coasts and the Sea, which is responsible for the protection of coastal areas and measures against flooding. Tourism and culture have been brought together in a joint department in order to make Mallorca's most important economic pillar more sustainable.
The PP government's declared aim is for Mallorca to remain economically strong, but to get a better grip on the burdens of mass tourism and environmental problems.
What has been achieved so far?
The government under Prohens has already achieved some visible successes:
- Focus on tourism:
- Alcohol bans on beaches: The measures are intended to curb excessive party tourism.
- Higher tourist tax: Additional income flows into environmental projects and the modernization of infrastructure.
- Stricter controls on illegal vacation rentals to relieve the tight rental market.
- Coastal and environmental protection:
- First steps towards restoring endangered coastal areas.
- Investments in desalination plants and better water management to counteract water scarcity.
- Languages and education:
- Abolition of the preferential status of Catalan in official documents. This measure met with mixed reactions and led to protests from language activists.
Hurdles and controversies
Not everything went smoothly. A mistake in the legislation caused a stir when New buildings in floodplains were inadvertently permitted. This glitch had to be rectified by special decree. The dependence on Vox is also causing tensions, particularly when it comes to controversial topics such as migration and social integration.
Vision for the future: making Mallorca more sustainable
The PP government has ambitious plans for the coming years. The focus is on sustainability, social justice and climate protection:
- Regulate tourism:
- Stricter rules for cruise ships and limits for day visitors to the island.
- Promotion of sustainable mobility with an expansion of the cycle path network and environmentally friendly local transportation.
- Creating affordable housing:
- Planned subsidies for the construction of social housing and measures against speculation on the real estate market.
- Advancing climate protection:
- Expansion of renewable energies and programs to reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Relief for the population:
- Tax relief for families and medium-sized companies should improve the economic situation.
Mallorca on the road to the future
The Partido Popular has big plans - in a politically tense environment. However, the steps taken so far show that the government under Marga Prohens has clear priorities: sustainable tourism, the protection of natural resources and a focus on the needs of the local population. The balancing act between the economy and the environment will show whether this vision will be successful in the long term.
0 Comments