The King calls for joint effort to survive crisis

After finishing their discussions, Bauzá presented the King - whom he described as being in extraordinary good health after a knee operation in June - to other senior local authority figures. “It's hardly surprising,” said Bauzá when formalities were complete, “that the King, just like anyone else in the country, is worried about the way forward to survive the crisis.” Bauzá said that he had agreed with the King that it was essential that future strategy on the part of the national government to avoid the debt crisis threatening to engulf Europe should have the backing of the regions. “Through joint effort, we can progressively work towards recovery,” said Bauzá. He said he had given the King a broad overview of how the Balearics was going to fit into the wider plan to tackle recession announced by Spain's Finance Minister Elena Salgado last week.

Separately, Bauzá gave a warm welcome to the King and his family and said what a privilege it was for the people of the Balearic Islands to have the Royal Family holiday on Majorca.

Meanwhile,following his presentation to the King by José Ramón Bauzá, the President of the Balearic Parliament, Pere Rotger, said that Don Juan Carlos had spoken to leading Balearic politicians and urged them not to get bogged down in party infighting which would only delay and prejudice the regional and national economic recovery.

The King, said Rotger, was fully aware that each party had its particular allegiances but now was a time when these should be put to one side for the benefit of the region and the country.

The Mayor of Palma, Mateo Isern had taken time to explain to the King just what Palma City Council had in mind to see its way out of the crisis.
The Mayor spoke of building work starting up again on the Conference Centre on the Paseo Maritimo, of establishing all-year-round tourism in the Balearics and of pursuing the Playa de Palma reform project.