Mallorca housing squeeze drives eight-party election bid
Mallorca’s housing squeeze: an eight-party alliance puts people who cannot find a home at the centre of its bid for seats in Spain’s Congress of Deputies. Ara Més-Front Ampli presented its candidates at a press conference in Palma, Mallorca, on Tuesday 27 October. Carme Gomila of MÉS per Mallorca leads the list.
Homes, wages and tourism
The left-wing and green alliance says housing, purchasing power and changes to tourism are its main priorities. Gomila said its candidates knew the islands’ problems for themselves. She wants the alliance to help people who work but still struggle to make ends meet.
Sergio Cerezo of Sumar is second on the list. Lucía Muñoz of Podemos is third and wants better wages and pensions, stronger protection for tenants and action against property speculation. She argued that record tourism figures should also improve people’s lives in the Balearics.
The list also includes Mateu Berenguer of Més per Menorca in fourth place and Mariví Mengual of Ara Eivissa in fifth. Berenguer called for more transport links outside the tourist season. Mengual said tourism wealth reaches only a minority while poverty grows for others.
A warning to potential partners
Gomila said joining forces would not stop the alliance from scrutinising the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), the largest party in the Spanish government. She accused it of lacking the courage to push ahead with housing measures until the government was under threat.
If a progressive government emerges, she said, Ara Més-Front Ampli will press it to do more than manage day-to-day affairs. She said the alliance would also challenge a right-wing government.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com