Cutting Down To Size: The Council of Mallorca

A few days ago I mentioned the fact that the left-wing Bloc group had suggested that responsibilities for certain ministries at regional government level should be transferred to the island councils, such as the Mallorca Council. It didn't seem much of an idea, and ran counter to my own view that it is the council which needs trimming. Well, what do you know?

The Bloc's idea has not been taken up, but there is talk flying around as to the future of the council. Not before time. The Partido Popular has been making overtures to the president of the council, Francina Armengol (PSOE), in terms of creating a "pact" in seeking significant cost reductions at the council. It reckons that some 60 million euros could be saved annually by avoiding "duplications" within government - the whole of government. Note the word "duplications". I have been saying this for ages. Even before the "crisis" brought on the demand for austerity measures and for rationalisation, the existence of the council seemed questionable. It is now being questioned. Seriously.

The PP may be talking about rationalisation, but other politicans are openly talking about doing away with the council. To this end, Armengol has offered her own "pact", one that would cut costs and "defend" the council from "opinions that this administration (the council) should be scrapped". Well, she would look to defend it; she is, after all, the president.

It is still most unlikely that something as radical as the elimination of the council would ever happen, but the fact that the notion is being given an airing is indicative of the urgency with which local politicians are having to confront cost-cutting measures and of a realisation that there is something wrong with the structure of government in Mallorca and the islands.

At regional government level, there has already been a rationalisation, one that has included the combining of tourism with employment under one minister, Joana Barceló, an ally in the PSOE of President Antich. This wasn't the move I have argued for several times, that tourism should be part of the office of the presidency, but other responsibilities (notably agriculture) now are. The closeness of Antich and Barceló is the next best thing; the two were together in Moscow, attempting to charm Russian tour operators and their clients.

Some realism in the structure of the island's government does seem to be emerging. It shouldn't have taken the crisis to bring it about, but better late than never. The obstacle to real change is likely, though, to be political. Not that restructuring should necessarily be a party matter. But the calls for moves such as scrapping or slimming the council are coming from the right. As someone more inclined to the left, this may not sit easily with me, but a beef I have long had with the left, here and in the UK, is the tendency to over-government. It shouldn't be a political issue; it should be common sense.

* Quotes above in translation from reports in "The Diario".


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