Mallorca housing camp faces fines as Palma seeks clearance

On Mallorca, a housing protest camp on Plaza España in Palma faces fines: mayor Jaime Martínez wants the square cleared. On Tuesday, 3 November, he renewed his request to the Spanish government’s representative in the Balearic Islands, Pere Joan Pons, after National Police cleared a camp at Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Palma Local Police will begin identifying campers who break city rules and opening proceedings that could lead to fines, Martínez said.

Madrid clearance prompts a new request

Martínez says the camp in Palma is no longer protected by the right to demonstrate. He also says public-order problems have occurred on Plaza España, as they had at the Madrid camp. His request for Palma’s camp to be removed is still under review.

The city first asked the government’s representative to end the occupation on 1 October, after the period announced by the camp’s organisers had passed.

What the camp means for the square

Around 50,000 people cross Plaza España each day, according to the city council. It says the camp makes cleaning and maintenance harder and limits public use of the square. Barriers and other structures, along with an unauthorised electricity connection, could damage the paving and other parts of the public space, it adds.

The council says it respects the right to demonstrate but argues that it does not allow an indefinite occupation of the square. For now, Martínez has announced action against rule-breakers, not a date for clearing the Palma camp.

Topics: Police · Protests · Housing · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com