GOVERNMENT PLAYS DOWN TALK OF A SNAP ELECTION

PALMA
THE leader of the Majorcan Unionist party, Tourism Minister Miguel Nadal, yesterday warned Balearic President Francesc Antich that nobody tells what his independent party should do.

Nadal was referring to the coalition government's demand that the UM Majorca Unionist Party spokesperson and MP, Bartomeu Vicens who, along with his wife, is under investigation in connection with the Son Oms corruption case, be stripped of his parliamentary seat and sacked as party spokesperson.

The UM is part of the coalition government and Vicens's refusal to resign as an MP and the party's decisions not to comply with the President's wishes has thrown the government into its biggest crisis yet and sparked rumours of Antich calling a snap election.

Vicens, however, did step down as parliamentary spokesperson for the UM but, despite facing the threat of possible prison, is refusing to give up his seat and his party is standing by him.