Political war of words over discount travel

A political tit-for-tat over discount air fares in the Balearics blew up yesterday in Palma between the regional President, Francesc Antich and Mariano Rajoy, the national Leader of the Opposition Partido Popular (PP).

Rajoy, who had been speaking on Friday at an “open house” forum for supporters and sympathisers organised by the local PP, claimed that he would support the islanders' in their quest to maintain the discounts they currently enjoy on inter-island air fares and connections with the mainland.

At a press conference given in response to the Partido Popular forum, Antich said that “Mr. Rajoy should have a care in the way he offers to help us with the air travel discount.” The Balearic President pointed out that when the Opposition Leader was a minister in the government of ex Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, he had voted against a proposal that Antich had made in the Senate to have the air travel discount raised from 33 percent to 50 percent. “It is the Socialists that people have got to thank for the level of air fares we now have,” remarked Antich, “not the Partido Popular.” Having made his reproach yesterday, Antich continued by saying that he felt sure that the Central Government Minister of Public Works, José Blanco, would not proceed with his alleged intention to trim the 50 percent discount as part of deficit-cutting austerity measures.

The subsidies on air travel are also provided to residents in the Canary Islands and in the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla. According to the Balearic President, the discounts are a necessity to bring air travel expenditure made by island residents into line with other regions of the country.

Antich, who is going to Madrid on Monday to hold talks with the Public Works ministry, was accompanied yesterday by the national Socialist Party Organization Secretary Leire Pajin. He said that he could count on the support of Ms. Pajin to halt the plans of Minister Blanco.