A Fair Cop But Society's To Blame - Mallorca's Corruption

It's not quite to the day, but it is only a couple of days out. Last year (8 December: We're Only In It For The Money), the Balearics delegate represented in Madrid made a speech about the state of local politics. It's easiest if I repeat what I reported then:

Speaking about politicians in Mallorca and the Balearics, Ramón Socias said that: "They should not see politics as something to depend upon or to see it as a means of a salary or privileges that cannot be obtained in other ways. They should be politicians for a 'determined period' as a way of curbing corrupt practices. And in the Balearics, there has been a failure of control mechanisms that has led to corruption, itself a fault of the system."

Nothing much seems to change or to improve. Socias has this year also criticised anti-corruption measures being considered by the regional president as not going far enough. These measures would involve legislation that would force a politician, embroiled in a corruption case, to resign. This seems fair enough. Credibility is strained by the stain of corruption, even if charges do not stick, though there is a slight unease with this: the hint of a presumption of guilt where no such guilt may ultimately be proven. Moreover, this measure does raise the possibility, only a possibility perhaps, of spurious charges being levelled for some political gain, something that does echo what the Unió Mallorquina (UM) is alleging - that the current spate of accusations made against its members is somehow a socialist plot. This allegation may seem far-fetched, but something similar could not be completely ruled out. Nevertheless, for the credibility of government, it is safest if a politician does resign: it shouldn't really need legislation to force the issue. Miquel Nadal's credibility had been stretched to the limit, having stayed in post for some eight months since he was initially implicated.

Electorate perception is also important, and for this reason, doing the honourable thing makes sense. A poll suggests that around a half the local population believes that the scandals will turn people off voting. There is, though, a lot of water to pass under bridges before the next regional elections due to take place in 2011, unless the coalition does indeed prove to be unworkable and an earlier election has to be called. A Facebook- inspired demonstration against political corruption is due to take place in Palma this weekend; so it is with the subversive but democratic will of an internet people. All power to their social network.

The latest potential pitfall facing the Antich administration surrounds the appointment of a replacement for the tourism minister Nadal. The UM has nominated his predecessor, Francesc Buils, the one who had to resign because he sacked people he wasn't entitled to. Antich has knocked this back, largely because it was Buils who was making those allegations of a socialist plot (Antich, remember, is from the socialist party). On the face of it, Buils' re-appointment would make sense, but he himself has made such a re-appointment nigh on impossible, which all goes to prove that it is probably best to maintain a dignified silence. And one who has been conspicuous by his absence in the media since the scandals erupted is Alcúdia's UM mayor, Miquel Ferrer. Much as he said nothing publicly after the train was dropped, so he has kept his powder dry regarding the corruption cases. Ferrer's name entered the frame as a potential successor to Nadal, the main problem with this being that it would involve time - he would have to stand down as mayor and ensure a smooth transition in Alcúdia. And time is short. The tourism post cannot be left vacant at such a crucial period for the industry. Yet Ferrer has indeed been named tourism minister.

A new tourism minister, the coalition holds together; moving pieces around the chess board until the next time. Socias is not wrong in anything that he has said either this or last year. But it is what he has not said which is most instructive, for he has spoken only of the political class and not of the culture and the society that gives rise to corruption. Mallorca is not unique when it comes to Spanish corruption, but the situation is exacerbated by the mores of an island, by the closeness of families and the complexity of politics that affords so many opportunities to those who might wish to exploit it for less than ethical purposes. Socias would be making a more telling contribution were he to address this cultural dimension, for it is this, more than the political system per se, that causes the cases of corruption arise.


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Without Young, here are the others, including Graham Nash who wrote it, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub_vBBjqF3g. Today's title - which sketch does this come from and who spoke the words?

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