The spokesperson for Esquerra Oberta de Bunyola, Joan Luna, reported to the Civil Guard homophobic insults, threats, and the throwing of firecrackers at his home after questioning the screen installed by a bar to watch the World Cup. The mayor, Marian Serralta (PP), condemned the events but stated that the councillor "was provoking".
The councillor of Esquerra Oberta de Bunyola (EOB), Joan Luna, has filed a complaint with the Civil Guard for an attack with firecrackers, homophobic insults, and threats he suffered last Tuesday, after Spain's victory over France in the World Cup. The events occurred after Luna posted a message on social media questioning the giant screen that the bar Ca s'Espardenyer installed in the village square to follow the matches.
The mayor: "He wanted to provoke"
The mayor of Bunyola, Marian Serralta (PP), condemned the attacks but at the same time justified the reaction of the aggressors. "He wanted to have the spotlight, he wanted to provoke on social media, and of course, young people have a short fuse. It is not right, and I condemn it, but he is a provocateur," Serralta stated to this newspaper.
The "provocation" the mayor refers to is Luna's statement in which he conveyed the complaints of several neighbours about the "overcrowding of the square" and denounced an alleged preferential treatment by the governing team towards the bar. "The mayor told us she had no idea that the bar had placed a television facing the street and speakers directed at the square," Luna wrote in his message.
No municipal permission, according to the Town Hall
Serralta defended that the installation of the screen did not require municipal authorization. "It happens once every four years. When there is a World Cup, bars always put their televisions on the facades. I did not give permission because it was not necessary. It is not illegal to put a television, and I have always watched the World Cups in the village bar," she assured.
The mayor rejects that there was preferential treatment towards Ca s'Espardenyer and believes that Luna has taken advantage of the controversy to "go against the governing team". "If any other bar had put up a television, I would not have said anything either. It is a cultural custom," she stated.
Attack with firecrackers and far-right flags
According to Luna's complaint, after Tuesday's match, a group of young people began to insult him in the square, where the screen was installed, and later moved to his home, where they threw firecrackers while continuing the threats and homophobic insults.
The mayor has also commented on the presence of several young people with a flag of the Cross of Burgundy during the match, a symbol used by the far-right. Serralta claims to be unaware of its meaning and has described it as "just another flag".
Serralta insists that she "condemns the insults and the attacks", although she maintains that the opposition spokesperson "was provoking" and that he has been "less tolerant". "He wanted to politicise football matches to go against the whole village. Football is one of the most loved and unifying sports," the mayor argues, adding that Luna "is bothered by Spain" and that, "if Barcelona had played, he would not have said anything".
For his part, Joan Luna has stated that he will not be intimidated and will continue to perform his opposition duties. "I will not allow them to silence me with threats and violence. This is an attack on democracy and freedom of expression," the councillor declared.
The events have sparked an intense debate in Bunyola, a municipality of about 7,000 inhabitants where local politics has been shaken by this controversy. While some neighbours support the mayor and believe that Luna "has gone too far", others condemn the violence and demand an investigation into the events.
The Civil Guard is investigating the complaint and has taken statements from several witnesses. So far, there have been no arrests. The case has also reached the Balearic Parliament, where the opposition has demanded explanations from the Government regarding the mayor's actions.
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