Palma: Socialist skips Ceuta rally, backs tourism protest

Palma socialist leader Iago Negueruela will not attend Wednesday’s rally supporting Ceuta in Plaça de Cort. He says the event is partisan and has instead urged people to join Saturday’s human chain against tourist overcrowding. The chain, called by activist Madò Farta, is due to end at Consolat de Mar.

Negueruela told reporters on Friday that the People’s Party was using a state issue for party politics, when it needed agreements and a broader view. He also said the rally was called by the party’s president, not Palma’s mayor.

Row over Palma’s city square

The socialist candidate for mayor called for calm, saying it was needed to avoid the growing tension seen on television in recent days. He accused the mayor of making an “absolutely political” use of Plaça de Cort.

Negueruela said the mayor was now calling rallies outside Palma City Hall after refusing permission for one of this summer’s Sopars a la fresca events.

Human chain targets tourism pressure

He described the Sopar a la fresca held at the Born as a success and called for strong turnout at Saturday’s human chain. Negueruela said nothing had been done on tourism in three years and accused the Balearic Government of denying the island’s overcrowding.

He said the demonstration was aimed at both the Balearic Government and Palma City Hall.

Topics: Protests · Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com