A new name has appeared in Mallorcan politics. Pere Sánchez — no relation to the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez — is the leading figure of the Coalició per Mallorca, which presents itself as an island-wide movement rather than a traditional party, under the slogan “Mallorca first”.
Who is behind it
The coalition brings together people from a range of political backgrounds, including left-wing, regionalist and republican groups. What unites them, they say, is the aim of protecting the island’s resources and its residents’ quality of life.
The main proposals
- Slowing population growth. The coalition wants to limit the arrival of new residents, both wealthy newcomers from northern Europe and the United States and workers from Africa and Latin America.
- Priority for long-term residents. Preferential access to public services such as health, education and housing for people who have lived on the island for more than eight years and speak its languages.
- An island police force. Unlike the Basque Country and Catalonia, the Balearics have no regional police; the coalition wants a Mallorcan force.
- Ending incentives that encourage people to move to the island.
Services under strain
Sánchez argues that schools can no longer properly integrate pupils from all over the world, and that the health system is close to its limits because of population growth. He also points to housing, which many Mallorcan families say they can no longer afford in their own towns.
Tourism
The coalition sees tourism as a driver of population growth and proposes:
- a “demographic pause”, slowing the arrival of seasonal workers;
- a 10% cut in tourist capacity, including hotel beds and holiday rentals;
- developing other sectors such as technology, renewable energy and farming.
It also proposes cutting VAT from 21% to 15% to ease the cost of living.
The debate
Sánchez insists that Mallorcans remain welcoming, but says the island must look after its own residents first. Critics argue that measures restricting services by length of residence or language would face legal obstacles and that the island’s economy depends on workers from outside. Whether the coalition can turn its message into electoral support remains to be seen, but it reflects a wider debate in the Balearics about population growth, housing and the limits of the tourism model.
