23/01/2007 00:00
TW
0
Staff Reporter

PALMA
THE Majorcan Union (UM) voted in favour of a joint proposal presented by the opposition groups, calling on the Council of Majorca to demand the resignation of the Balearic interior minister José Maria Rodríguez, over the Andratx corruption scandal.

The proposal also calls on Balearic leader Jaume Matas to give a public explanation “on his implication in the scandal uncovered in the municipality.” During the debate on the proposal, Eduardo Puche, spokesman for the Partido Popular (PP) claimed that Rodriguez met up with the former Mayor of Andratx Eugenio Hidalgo, two days before the scandal broke out, “in his capacity as Balearic secretary general of the party, and not as a representative of the Balearic government.” However, this did not convince the UM, which which is headed by Council president Maria Antonia Munar, and voted in favour of the minister's resignation.

Bartolmeu Vicens, head of the Council's territorial planning department, who at no point revealed the UM posture on the motion, called on Andratx council to “collaborate” and provide the Council with all the necessary information to approve the subsidiary planning regulations.

Vicens claimed that the matter could be resolved within 15 days, but for this to happen, it was “essential” for the Andratx town council to hand over all the maps and the CD with the documentation requested.” He went on to say that it would take the Council three months to approve the regulations following the planning directives, but with the help of the council, the regulations could be approved within 24 hours.

Antonio Alemany, the socialist spokesman, recriminated the PP over the fact that the interview between Rodriguez and Hidalgo should have taken part in the Consolat de Mar (the seat of government) instead of party headquarters. He also said that the minister's intentions during all this time “had not been very clear.” He claimed he had confused the public with contradictory versions.

Puche criticised Alemany, pointing out that the PP was not the only party which had ruled with Hidalgo.
Antoni Alorda, speaking for the PSM (Majorcan Socialist Party) claimed that the PP was “politically responsible for the mistrust which the current Andratx team is generating,” and claimed that the PP is responsible for what is happening in the municipality. He also blamed the Balearic government “for having associated the name of Majorca with corruption.” The proposal was approved with 17 votes in favour and the 15 votes of the PP against.