Balearics: PSIB seeks tourism relief beyond €412m
The PSIB is pressing for the Balearic Islands’ new funding system to recognise the cost of island life and mass tourism, beyond an initial €412 million allocation already envisaged. Rosario Sánchez, the party’s candidate for the 2027 Balearic elections, set out the plan in Palma on Friday. She said changes to the model should ease pressure from population changes, rising prices and housing-market difficulties.
The proposed funding package would move the Balearic Islands from seventh to second place in per-capita funding, Sánchez said. But the PSIB wants amendments that add the impact of insularity and tourism pressure to the calculation. The proposal emerged from discussions involving the party, civil society and economic and social groups on the islands.
Debt row and island costs
Sánchez also pointed to €1.742 billion in Balearic debt that could be written off. Other autonomous communities have already sat down with Spain’s central government to negotiate debt relief, she said, while accusing Marga Prohens’ PP government of inaction and taking a unilateral position.
She said Prohens had announced she would vote against the funding model, a move the PSIB calls unacceptable because of the resources at stake for public services.
The party also wants an urgent review of the insularity factor within the Special Tax Regime. Since that measure was introduced in 2023, the islands have received €576 million from the state for investments linked to their island status, according to the Socialists. Sánchez criticised the Prohens government for not accounting for how that money has been spent and urged it to negotiate with the central government for better funding rather than pursue confrontation.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com