Several hundred people gathered this Tuesday in front of the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands to denounce the police actions from Sunday. They demand the resignation of delegate Alfonso Rodríguez.
A new protest shook Palma this Tuesday. Several hundred people congregated in front of the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands to denounce the police actions that took place last Sunday at the end of the largest demonstration against tourist saturation held to date in the islands.
The protesters, called by the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida, demanded the resignation of the Government delegate, Alfonso Rodríguez, whom they hold responsible for the actions of the riot police. During the protest, chants such as "Resignation, resignation" were heard, and calls were made for clarification of the events and accountability.
Rodríguez himself has described some of the police actions as "unacceptable," according to reports in recent hours. However, the protesters consider this condemnation insufficient and demand his immediate dismissal. The afternoon passed peacefully, without notable incidents, in an atmosphere of contained tension.
This Tuesday's mobilization is a direct response to what occurred on Sunday, when between 25,000 people (according to the National Police) and nearly 70,000 (according to the organizers) marched through the centre of Palma under the slogan 'Mallorca at the limit'. The march denounced the impact of the current tourist model on access to housing, the pressure on natural resources, and the loss of quality of life for residents.
Sunday's events were largely peaceful for hours. However, at the end, when a manifesto was to be read at the foot of the cathedral, thousands of people attempting to access the area encountered a large deployment of the National Police that blocked their way. Tension escalated until a small group threw objects at the officers. The police response included charges and rubber bullet shots, which left several injured who were treated by emergency services. The platform has raised the number of affected individuals to several dozen.
Images of the police actions have sparked a political storm in the Balearic Islands. Government delegate Alfonso Rodríguez has called some of the actions "unacceptable," while Més, a party with a deputy in Congress integrated into Sumar, has called for the appearance of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and announced that it withdraws its support for Pedro Sánchez until political responsibilities are assumed, which they specify as the resignation of the delegate.
Police unions, for their part, have criticized the delegate for publicly distancing himself from the operation. The National Police itself has opened an internal investigation to determine what happened and clarify whether there were excesses in the actions of the riot police.
Menys Turisme, Més Vida has announced that the injured are considering taking collective legal action against the officers who participated in the operation. The platform insists that Sunday’s mobilization demonstrated unprecedented social discontent with the tourist model and maintains that the police actions will not divert attention from their demands.
They have already announced new mobilizations for the coming weeks and assert that they will continue to demand measures to curb tourist saturation, guarantee access to housing, and change the current economic model of Mallorca. Pressure on the Govern and the central Government continues, as citizens keep taking to the streets to express their discontent.
For residents in Mallorca, this situation represents a new episode of social tension that affects daily life, with traffic disruptions and police presence in the centre of Palma. Upcoming mobilizations could disrupt the city's routine, so it is recommended to stay alert to announcements from the calling platform and instructions from the authorities.
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