10/06/2003 00:00
TW
0
Staff reporter THE secretary general of the Partido Popular in the Balearics, José María Rodríguez, yesterday warned that the forming of a government by the ”Progressive Party” left wing coalition in the Insular Council of Majorca would be like “falling over the same stone again”, and maintained that such a governing body “wouldn't be good” for the island. The PP politician alluded to the possible political alliance and recommended to the groups of the Progressive Party coalition, defeated at the local elections, that they “read between the lines the message from the people” following voting in the last regional and local elections in the Balearics. Rodríguez explained that within the Partido Popular, they are aware that “a possibility” exists that the parties of the Progressive coalition might rebuild their government in the Council. Nevertheless, the PP claims this isn't an adequate political option to resolve the problems “put on the back burner eight years ago” such as agreement on crucial issues of territory, road improvement or waste treatment. To address these points, the Partido Popular has presented a “political pact” to the Majorcan Unionist party based on the principle of offering concrete responses to the needs of Majorca and its people, that is to say, “on issues of content and not on those of power and responsibility.” Rodríguez gave a press conference yesterday morning in the central offices of the PP in Palma, also attended by the campaign co-ordinator - Javier Rodrigo de Santos. De Santos expressed his willingness to take on the work that the next Mayor of Palma Catalina Cirer - might assign to him, although he said he was also open to taking on any other function at a regional level, such as heading up a ministry within the Balearic Government. The party general secretary was asked about the next municipal government in Calvià and he confirmed that the local Partido Popular assembly has “autonomy” to form an alliance in a way it considered best for the locality and its citizens. He pointed out that his party had been the one to achieve most votes in the locality. With this in mind, ”it's important to really understand the message of the voters”, insisted Rodríguez. Commenting on the “abandonment” of the local politician Margalida Moner who has been Mayoress of Andratx for the past twelve years, Rodríguez affirmed that “new people” are needed. The press conference was called to examine the electoral results of the districts of Palma. Out of 56 districts, the Partido Popular has witnessed an increase of votes in 55 and proportionately in 34, while in 19 districts electoral support has risen more than two points, such as in La Llonja, Sant Jaume, Son Cotoner, Arxiduc or la Plaza de la Columnas. On the subject of three “sticking points”, where citizens were being bothered by public works or where specific incidents had been recorded, Rodríguez expressed his satisfaction with growing public support for the Partido Popular in the districts of La Llonta, Sant Jaume and Sant Miquel. In La Llonja, where there had been controversy on whether or not to construct a carpark in the Plaza de la Puerta de Santa Catalina, the Partido Popular had moved from 251 votes to 644, from which Rodríguez concluded that “it would seem” that the people of this neighbourhoold “indeed want” this infrastructure.