The Balearic Government condemns the vandalism against businesses during tourist protests and calls for the demonstration on Sunday, July 26 in Palma to be peaceful.
The second vice president of the Government, Antònia Maria Estarellas, was emphatic this Friday: the protest against tourist saturation scheduled for next Sunday in Palma must take place without violence. She stated this at the press conference following the Consell de Govern, where she explicitly condemned the "vandalism" of businesses that occurred in previous mobilisations.
Legal demonstration but with limits
Estarellas reminded that the regional government respects the right to protest as long as it is exercised within the law. "All demonstrations carried out normally, following the rules of coexistence and peacefully, are legal and legitimate," she affirmed.
However, she wanted to make it clear that violent acts against businesses operating legally cannot be tolerated. "Actions against businesses that are carrying out lawful activities cannot be normalised," she emphasised.
Silence on the detention of activists
The councillor has been asked several times about the detention of two young activists, accused of vandalising five real estate agencies during previous protests. Both were released provisionally after being brought before a judge, but Estarellas has avoided commenting on the case.
"We do not know the details of the operation," she argued to justify her refusal to comment on the proportionality of the police intervention. "We believe that any action must be justified, but we do not know the details," she insisted.
The vice president added that the operation corresponds to the Civil Guard and that the Government can only express "maximum respect" for police work, while reiterating their rejection of any violent act.
Call for coexistence
In view of the demonstration on Sunday, which will march through the streets of Palma called by the platform Less Tourism, More Life, Estarellas has made a call for responsibility. She asked that the protest be "peaceful" and that it respects "the framework of coexistence and all the people who are in the Islands."
The Government, she said, defends the right to demonstrate, but also the need to preserve public order and the economic activity of businesses, which they consider victims of disproportionate actions.
The event is this Sunday, July 26 in Palma. The organisers expect high participation, while the Government hopes that the day will pass without incidents. For now, the councillor has preferred not to reveal whether security will be reinforced in the area.
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