Alfonso Rodríguez acknowledges that some police actions were "violent and excessive" and has commissioned internal reports from the National Police to clarify responsibilities. The protest against tourist overcrowding ended with more than a dozen injured.
The Government Delegate in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez, ruled out on Monday the possibility of resigning following the police actions last Saturday in Palma, which he described as "violent and excessive." Rodríguez has ordered the National Police to prepare internal reports to clarify what happened and determine if any responsibilities should be assigned.
In a press conference, Rodríguez acknowledged that some officers used "unnecessary" force when dispersing the demonstrators participating in the protest against tourist overcrowding. The official tally includes more than a dozen injured, including four national police officers, and one arrest for alleged crimes of public disorder and assault against authority.
The SAMU 061 attended to at least eight injured demonstrators, most with minor injuries, although two were transferred to a hospital with reserved prognosis. Among the injured is a photojournalist covering the protest who was struck on the head with a baton, according to emergency service sources.
Rodríguez denied giving the order to intervene against the demonstrators. "I do not direct the police operation nor was I present to make specific decisions," he explained. However, he noted that in the weeks leading up to the event, he had communicated directives of "containment, calm, and safety" to police commanders to ensure the protest proceeded normally.
The Government Delegate has called for reports to be prepared "with rigor and brevity" to clarify the events. The internal investigation will include the collection of information and analysis of footage recorded by both media and the officers themselves. Based on those conclusions, it will be studied whether measures should be taken and who would have the authority to do so.
After meeting with the Chief of the National Police in the Balearic Islands, José Antonio Puebla, Rodríguez insisted that his priority is to clarify the facts, analyze if improvements should be made, and ensure that future police actions respect the right to protest.
The delegate has rejected calls for his resignation from MÉS per Mallorca and the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida. "My responsibility is to manage this crisis and prevent similar situations from recurring," he stated.
Aside from the incidents, Rodríguez defended the "massive" and predominantly "civic" nature of the protest. He considered that the mobilization reflected widespread public discontent regarding tourist overcrowding, saturation, and housing access issues. He also urged that the incidents should not divert attention from these demands and called on institutions to take action in a situation that, in his view, requires urgent responses.
The internal investigation by the National Police will be key in determining whether there were excesses and if the involved officers will be sanctioned. Meanwhile, the Government Delegate has announced that he will meet with the protest organizers to discuss what happened and seek dialogue avenues.
The Palma City Council, for its part, has expressed concern over the events and has called for an independent investigation. The municipal opposition has criticized the police actions and demanded political accountability.
The protest on Saturday, called by several social entities, gathered thousands of people in central Palma to denounce the effects of tourist overcrowding on the island. The incidents occurred at the end of the march when a group of demonstrators attempted to access the promenade area and confronted the officers.
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