Editorial: Boris of Palma

MATEO Isern, the Mayor of Palma, is like the Boris Johnson of Majorca, while his Partido Popular remain unpopular, he has managed to distance himself from much of the criticism. Also, like Johnson who is always been tipped as a possible Prime Minister, Isern has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the job of Balearic President. But Isern´s political career came to an abrupt halt yesterday when it was announced that he would not be standing as a candidate for the job of Mayor of Palma at the next local elections. But Isern is not going, he has been forced out by internal feuding within his own party. It is a great shame because the Partido Popular, who have been dubbed the Nasty Party like their Conservative counterparts in Britain, have probably lost one of their finest candidates. Although opinion polls suggest that the Partido Popular would lose their majority on the city council I suspect that if anyone can deliver Palma for the Partido Popular, it would be Isern.  A new candidate to replace Isern has already been mentioned but ofcourse nothing has been confirmed. Losing Isern and ofcourse Manu Onieva, who is not standing for the Partido Popular in Calvia, are major blows. But politics is a funny old game. Why would President Jose Ramon Bauza allow one of his more likeable Mayor to disappear into the wilderness (for now)? An interesting question but the Partido Popular is in turmoil at the moment. And it shows.