Balboa becomes Majorca's first black mayor

Without referring to his colour or any racial issue, Balboa said that political work should be about honesty and vocation. There has to be confidence and persistence, he explained, in the face of a current-day "arrogance of pessimism" and "discourse of deception" which leaves people "caged and frightened".

He received a great ovation.

Originally from Equatorial Guinea, he moved with his family to Majorca in 1970 when he was four years old. He lived in Palma until 2006. On a visit to Alaro in that year, he and his wife decided that they wanted to live in the town. He studied history at the University of the Balearic Islands and is a fellow of the department of communications and also the university's community manager.