The president of the Govern, Marga Prohens, acknowledged this Thursday the public discontent over tourist overcrowding, but attributed the situation to the eight years of government under Francina Armengol. She made this statement after meeting with King Felipe VI in Palma.
The president of the Balearic Govern, Marga Prohens, admitted this Thursday that there is widespread discontent among the public due to the tourist saturation affecting the archipelago. However, rather than taking responsibility for the current Executive, she directed her criticisms towards the previous legislature, governed by the left under the leadership of Francina Armengol.
Prohens made these statements following her meeting with King Felipe VI at the Palace of Almudaina, as part of the audiences that the monarch holds with the main authorities of the Balearics at the beginning of his summer stay in Mallorca.
“I acknowledge the discontent of part of the citizenry regarding the situation. But during the eight years of the left-wing pact, tourist spots skyrocketed, tourist rentals were allowed, and the Balearics experienced uncontrolled growth,” the president pointed out, referring to the Govern of Francina Armengol.
Prohens wanted to make it clear that, although there is still work to be done, the origin of the current saturation lies in the policies implemented between 2015 and 2023. This message contrasts with the criticisms from the opposition and social groups, which point to the lack of effective measures from the current Executive.
In her meeting with the king, the president also addressed other current issues, such as wildfires, which particularly concern the monarch, and the special measures implemented due to the solar eclipse that could be observed in the islands.
After Prohens, the president of the Parliament, Gabriel Le Senne, was received by the king, who conveyed his concerns about the so-called Grandchildren's Law promoted by the central government, as well as the migratory situation in the islands. Le Senne, more reserved than on other occasions, did not delve into details about tourist overcrowding.
Subsequently, the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, held his meeting with the monarch, inviting him to the commemorative events for the 800th anniversary of the conquest of Mallorca by Jaume I, which will be celebrated in 2029. For his part, the president of the Mallorca Council, Llorenç Galmés, committed to the king to limit vehicle entry to the island starting next year, a measure aimed at alleviating tourist and environmental pressure.
The interview between Prohens and the king occurs in a context of growing social debate regarding the tourist model of the Balearics. A demonstration against overcrowding is scheduled for next Sunday in Palma, a protest that the president has acknowledged as legitimate, although she insisted that the causes are a legacy of the previous administration.
From the opposition, left-wing parties have replied that the current Govern has also increased tourist spots and has not taken effective measures to curb holiday rentals. Meanwhile, neighbourhood and environmental associations warn that saturation continues to rise and demand immediate action.
The meeting between Prohens and the king, which lasted about 45 minutes, is part of the round of audiences that Felipe VI holds each summer with the island authorities. This institutional gesture has been marked this year by the debate over the tourist carrying capacity of the islands.
For the citizens of Mallorca, Prohens' statements represent an official acknowledgment of discontent, but also a controversial assignment of responsibilities that is likely to shape the political debate in the coming weeks, especially in light of the demonstration on Sunday.
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