The socialists of Santa Margalida have harshly criticized the performance of Madò Pereta during the patronal festivities, considering that it included insults directed at the President of the Government and the PSOE, and that it was funded with municipal money.
The PSOE of Santa Margalida has filed a formal complaint against the Town Hall, governed by PP and Convergència, for hiring the Madò Pereta show, which took place on the night of Monday, the day of the patron saint. The socialists believe that the performance, framed within the patronal festivities, crossed the line from humour to become a platform for political attacks.
In a statement shared on social media, the local party argues that the show, performed by actor Joan Carles Bestard, included direct criticisms of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, his family, and the PSOE itself. “This is not humour; it is using the resources of all the neighbours to whitewash a discourse of insults and lies,” the statement reads.
The PSOE demands that the Town Hall clarify who authorised the hiring of the show, what criteria were followed to include it in the programme, and how much public money was allocated to the performance. The party emphasises that the patronal festivities should be “a space for everyone” and not a “paid platform for partisanship from institutions.”
The controversy has sparked an intense debate in the municipality, especially on social media. Residents and users are divided between those who support the PSOE's complaint and those who defend the artistic freedom of the show. Joan Carles Bestard himself has intervened in the controversy, responding to a post by former socialist mayor Miquel Cifre, who accused the organisers of being “fascists.” Bestard recalled that his great-grandfather was murdered by the nationalists, in an attempt to distance himself from the accusations.
The performance of Madò Pereta, which marks the end of a 25-year career with a review of his cabaret shows, has been defended by his supporters as a humorous show with no political intent. However, the PSOE insists that the content was “partisan propaganda” and cannot be justified by the argument of humour.
So far, there has been no official response from the municipal government, formed by PP and Convergència led by Joan Monjo, to the accusations. It is expected that in the coming days the Town Hall will address the transparency demands raised by the socialists.
The case has transcended the local sphere and reopened the debate on the limits of humour in events funded with public money. For the residents of Santa Margalida, the controversy has overshadowed festivities that traditionally seek social cohesion. The PSOE has announced that it will continue to demand explanations and that, if they do not receive them, it may take the matter to other instances.
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