Alcúdia's council has rejected the imposition of trilingualism in schools and approved a motion to inform the national education ministry of its opposition. This was carried thanks to Carme Garcia, the former member of the PSM socialists who made a pact with the Partido Popular, going against the PP at the town hall. Her vote also helped to carry a motion condemning the death of Alpha Pam, the Senegalese man who died from TB as a consequence of not receiving medical treatment at Inca hospital.
See more: Diario de Mallorca
Showing posts with label Carme Garcia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carme Garcia. Show all posts
Friday, July 05, 2013
Saturday, July 07, 2012
MALLORCA TODAY - Garcia votes against PP in Alcúdia
Carme Garcia, the so-called "turncoat" who sided with the Partido Popular after last year's elections and so left the PSM Mallorcan socialists, has voted against the PP on a number of issues, meaning that the mayor's party has failed to get its way on, for example, supporting the regional government over its health policies. Garcia did side with the PP at yesterday's meeting in order that support was given to the solar-energy plant in Alcúdia.
See more: Diario de Mallorca
See more: Diario de Mallorca
Friday, September 16, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Alcúdia bar controversy and Carme Garcia
The former PSM member Carme Garcia, who caused upset when she supported the Partido Popular during the local elections and has since become a member of the town hall administration, has found herself in the midst of a controversy related to a town hall decision to pave some garden in the market square. The garden happens to be next to the bar Sa Murada, which is owned by her father, and will enable extra terracing for the bar. The mayor, Coloma Terrasa, says that the decision was based on a report by local police. The opposition has challenged the ethics of the decision.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Garcia claims irregularities by previous Alcúdia administration
Carme Garcia, the former PSM (Mallorcan socialists) leader who was ejected from the party for siding with the Partido Popular in the new Alcúdia town hall administration, has asserted that she decided against a pact with the two parties of the former administration, Convergència and PSOE, because of what she has described as irregularities in relation to social services in the town. The opposition parties have called on her to make clear what it is she referring to when she speaks of a "phantom company" that was allegedly established.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Garcia's PSM representation in Alcúdia challenged
At a meeting of Alcúdia town hall it has been established that the town's administration is a coalition between the Partido Popular and PSM (and Iniciativa Verds). Yet, Carme Garcia had left the PSM in order to align with the PP in creating the coalition. Or had she? She argues that she was booted out of the PSM. Either way, the rest of the PSM is decidedly unhappy, as are other opposition groups and legal action against the administration is being considered.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Garcia abstains but Terrasa takes over as Alcúdia mayor
The now former member of the PSM (Mallorcan socialists), Carme Garcia, abstained from voting during the mayoral selection process in Alcúdia yesterday. Combined Convergència and PSOE support for Pere Malondra (PSOE) as mayor could not gain Garcia's vote in order to prevent the Partido Popular's Coloma Terrasa becoming mayor. The PP will govern in minority but can call on Garcia's support. Garcia will be a second-in-command to Terrasa. A heated investiture debate brought forward criticisms of the nature of the PP's "pact". Garcia defended herself by saying that she was not a turncoat as she had not joined another party.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Mayoral day of decision
Today is when all the negotiations have to end and that the make-ups of town halls are agreed, along with who is going to be mayor.
Pollensa: Agreement has been reached between the Partido Popular and La Lliga. Under this, Tomeu Cifre of the PP will become mayor and will also have responsibility for urban planning. Malena Estrany of La Lliga will be a second-in-command with responsibilities for finance and culture. This agreement will still leave the coalition one short of a majority, but it hopes to draw on the support of the councillor for the Unió Mollera Pollencina which has been holding out for special responsibilities to be drawn up for a councillor for Puerto Pollensa.
Alcúdia: Controversy will spill over into today's meeting. It is likely that that the PP will now rule in minority, with Coloma Terrasa as mayor. It is unclear if Carme Garcia, now no longer with the PSM (Mallorcan socialists), will formally align with Terrasa, but she is expected to subsequently lend her vote to Terrasa. The PP needed the extra support to reach a majority of nine. However, it is possible that the Convergència and PSOE, with eight councillors between them, will spring a surprise and vote for Garcia as mayor, which would send everything into chaos. Police are to be drafted in today as there are threats of protests directed at Garcia.
Pollensa: Agreement has been reached between the Partido Popular and La Lliga. Under this, Tomeu Cifre of the PP will become mayor and will also have responsibility for urban planning. Malena Estrany of La Lliga will be a second-in-command with responsibilities for finance and culture. This agreement will still leave the coalition one short of a majority, but it hopes to draw on the support of the councillor for the Unió Mollera Pollencina which has been holding out for special responsibilities to be drawn up for a councillor for Puerto Pollensa.
Alcúdia: Controversy will spill over into today's meeting. It is likely that that the PP will now rule in minority, with Coloma Terrasa as mayor. It is unclear if Carme Garcia, now no longer with the PSM (Mallorcan socialists), will formally align with Terrasa, but she is expected to subsequently lend her vote to Terrasa. The PP needed the extra support to reach a majority of nine. However, it is possible that the Convergència and PSOE, with eight councillors between them, will spring a surprise and vote for Garcia as mayor, which would send everything into chaos. Police are to be drafted in today as there are threats of protests directed at Garcia.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Unprincipled
A double-header today. Firstly, Alcúdia and its pacts. A bit later, the tourism minister.
The other day, under the title "Carme Chameleon", I looked at the possibility of the PSM (Mallorcan socialists) forming a pact with the Partido Popular to govern Alcúdia town hall. The title was quite deliberate. Turning colours. I hadn't expected that it would happen, but, unless there is a change of heart, it is now on the cards. To use another song from the 1980s, Carme Garcia will have shed her skin and smashed a damn great sledgehammer into what pretence there is in Mallorca as to principled politics.
The spin is that she will align herself with the PP by setting aside ideological differences because the PP, which gained eight councillors (one short of the nine required), has the moral right to govern Alcúdia. There's no debating this. Twice as many councillors as the next party, almost twice as much of the vote as the next lot, the PP has to be allowed to run the town hall. There is also, unquestionably, a bit of a sisters' act going on, which, where Garcia is concerned, you can understand. The alternative for her would be to align with the mates of the Convergència and PSOE, which might pose problems for her, and them.
However, there is also ambition. Garcia is likely to end up as the right-hand woman of the PP's Coloma Terrasa, whether Terrasa really wants her or not. Then there is credibility. Garcia's has been shot to pieces. If she does indeed end up as a "teniente" to the new mayor, she will be treated with utter contempt. Her party, the PSM, is livid and she has been booted out of the party for arriving at a personal agreement with the PP. She has been branded as a turncoat.
The PSM is pleading with the PP to reject the agreement. PSOE is calling on José Bauzá to in effect veto it. If there were any principles, then the PP would do so and Terrasa would be left to govern with a minority, notwithstanding the difficulties this would create.
Garcia's actions are disgraceful. They are not principled. Yes, she was returned as a councillor, but it was with a small percentage of the vote. Who did this small percentage vote for? Her or the PSM? Activists within the PSM might have enjoyed the opportunity of town hall representation, but they wouldn't have enjoyed an alliance with the PP which is the complete opposite of the PSM. Nor, you would think, would PP supporters enjoy the idea of a Mallorcan socialist pulling some strings.
The proportional system can be held open to ridicule, and it is being made to look completely ridiculous in Alcúdia, while Garcia has made herself a laughing-stock.
Tourism minister
Moving onto the never-ending saga as to who might end up as the new tourism minister, the possibility of a so-called "professional" taking the reins at the ministry keeps on popping up.
It would appear that certain professionals have indeed been canvassed as to their willingness to become tourism supremo. One of them is Alvaro Middelmann, the boss of Air Berlin in Iberia, and the former president of the Fomento del Turismo (the Mallorcan tourism board). Why on earth would Middelmann want the job? He's hugely qualified to do it, but what benefit would it bring him? It wouldn't be financial, that's for sure. And he's pretty much said as much.
It's all very well people banging on about the need for a professional to be in charge of tourism, but the problem is that professionals, if they are any good, earn a considerably larger wedge doing what they do outside of government than were they inside it.
There is also a potential problem as to perception. Middelmann, for example, is associated with one particular airline and with one particular market, the German market. Such associations could cause issues down the line, even if the perception were misplaced. Similar associations and perceptions could apply to others.
And then there is an issue of principle. What exactly is the deal with possibly appointing someone who hasn't been elected? Carlos Delgado, the bookies' favourite for the job, may be disliked, other candidates from within the PP may in fact be useless, but they have at least been elected.
Finally, if the tourism ministry is as bust as it is meant to be and if it fails to be a massive beneficiary of Bauzá benevolence, do you honestly think someone such as Middelmann, or any other highly-regarded professional, would risk their reputation when the mud starts flying about lack of promotion this, lack of promotion that? If a pro does end up at tourism, it's probably because he or she needs a job. You wouldn't want it otherwise.
Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.
The other day, under the title "Carme Chameleon", I looked at the possibility of the PSM (Mallorcan socialists) forming a pact with the Partido Popular to govern Alcúdia town hall. The title was quite deliberate. Turning colours. I hadn't expected that it would happen, but, unless there is a change of heart, it is now on the cards. To use another song from the 1980s, Carme Garcia will have shed her skin and smashed a damn great sledgehammer into what pretence there is in Mallorca as to principled politics.
The spin is that she will align herself with the PP by setting aside ideological differences because the PP, which gained eight councillors (one short of the nine required), has the moral right to govern Alcúdia. There's no debating this. Twice as many councillors as the next party, almost twice as much of the vote as the next lot, the PP has to be allowed to run the town hall. There is also, unquestionably, a bit of a sisters' act going on, which, where Garcia is concerned, you can understand. The alternative for her would be to align with the mates of the Convergència and PSOE, which might pose problems for her, and them.
However, there is also ambition. Garcia is likely to end up as the right-hand woman of the PP's Coloma Terrasa, whether Terrasa really wants her or not. Then there is credibility. Garcia's has been shot to pieces. If she does indeed end up as a "teniente" to the new mayor, she will be treated with utter contempt. Her party, the PSM, is livid and she has been booted out of the party for arriving at a personal agreement with the PP. She has been branded as a turncoat.
The PSM is pleading with the PP to reject the agreement. PSOE is calling on José Bauzá to in effect veto it. If there were any principles, then the PP would do so and Terrasa would be left to govern with a minority, notwithstanding the difficulties this would create.
Garcia's actions are disgraceful. They are not principled. Yes, she was returned as a councillor, but it was with a small percentage of the vote. Who did this small percentage vote for? Her or the PSM? Activists within the PSM might have enjoyed the opportunity of town hall representation, but they wouldn't have enjoyed an alliance with the PP which is the complete opposite of the PSM. Nor, you would think, would PP supporters enjoy the idea of a Mallorcan socialist pulling some strings.
The proportional system can be held open to ridicule, and it is being made to look completely ridiculous in Alcúdia, while Garcia has made herself a laughing-stock.
Tourism minister
Moving onto the never-ending saga as to who might end up as the new tourism minister, the possibility of a so-called "professional" taking the reins at the ministry keeps on popping up.
It would appear that certain professionals have indeed been canvassed as to their willingness to become tourism supremo. One of them is Alvaro Middelmann, the boss of Air Berlin in Iberia, and the former president of the Fomento del Turismo (the Mallorcan tourism board). Why on earth would Middelmann want the job? He's hugely qualified to do it, but what benefit would it bring him? It wouldn't be financial, that's for sure. And he's pretty much said as much.
It's all very well people banging on about the need for a professional to be in charge of tourism, but the problem is that professionals, if they are any good, earn a considerably larger wedge doing what they do outside of government than were they inside it.
There is also a potential problem as to perception. Middelmann, for example, is associated with one particular airline and with one particular market, the German market. Such associations could cause issues down the line, even if the perception were misplaced. Similar associations and perceptions could apply to others.
And then there is an issue of principle. What exactly is the deal with possibly appointing someone who hasn't been elected? Carlos Delgado, the bookies' favourite for the job, may be disliked, other candidates from within the PP may in fact be useless, but they have at least been elected.
Finally, if the tourism ministry is as bust as it is meant to be and if it fails to be a massive beneficiary of Bauzá benevolence, do you honestly think someone such as Middelmann, or any other highly-regarded professional, would risk their reputation when the mud starts flying about lack of promotion this, lack of promotion that? If a pro does end up at tourism, it's probably because he or she needs a job. You wouldn't want it otherwise.
Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
MALLORCA TODAY - Garcia makes pact with PP in Alcúdia
Carme Garcia, who won representation as a councillor in Alcúdia on behalf of the PSM (Mallorcan socialists) has, unless she changes her mind, entered into a personal agreement to form a pact with the Partido Popular, thus giving the PP and Coloma Terrasa the nine councillors to create a majority and to make Terrasa mayor. Garcia has effectively resigned from the PSM which appears aghast at her decision.
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