Mallorca protestuje protiv turizma koji oduzima stanovnike svoje teritorije

Thousands of people flooded the streets of Palma this Sunday in one of the largest social protests in recent years in the Balearic Islands, demanding a fundamental change in the economic, territorial, and tourist model of the archipelago. The demonstration, organized by the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida, was supported by over 134 entities including GOB, SOS Residents, Sindicat de Llogateres, CCOO, UGT, STEI, CGT, CNT, Arran, Alerta Solidària and dozens of other social, cultural, and neighborhood associations. According to police data, at least 25,000 people participated in the protest, which traversed the main avenues of Palma with a clear message: the growth model of the past decades has pushed Mallorca to a breaking point in terms of housing, territory, mobility, natural resources, and quality of life. Throughout the demonstration, participants held up numerous banners bearing slogans such as “No tenim por,” “Qui estima Mallorca no la ven,” and “Mallorca no està en venda.” Thousands of demonstrators denounced how living in the islands has become increasingly difficult for an ever-growing portion of the population. The protest comes amid heightened social tensions, compounded by the recent detention of two activists who were investigated for attacks on five real estate agencies in Santa Maria del Camí. These activists, according to the Guardia Civil, were linked to a criminal group. This climate has placed the growing frustration over access to housing, tourism-driven development, and the economic model of the Balearics at the center of public discourse. The issue of housing has been the central focus of the mobilization. Organizers argue that the residential crisis is no longer merely a question of supply and demand imbalance but reflects the transformation of housing into a financial asset subject to international speculation. Despite the regional government led by Marga Prohens (PP) claiming that it is prioritizing residents' access to housing through the construction of protected housing and the acceleration of new urban developments, critics argue these measures fail to address structural causes. They point out that the Balearics continue to record some of the highest prices in Spain for both buying and renting, making housing unattainable for an increasing number of residents. Organizations leading the protest claim that the autonomous government's policies remain focused on increasing supply without addressing the demand that, in their view, fuels rising prices. Among other criticisms, they highlight the approval of an omnibus law by the PP and Vox allowing legal entities to purchase price-taxed homes for rental purposes, a reform the government justifies as a mechanism to increase the residential stock. However, opposition groups and social movements interpret this as another avenue for large real estate operators to enter a market already heavily strained. For thousands of workers, finding affordable housing has become nearly impossible. Meanwhile, young people are delaying independence, families are being forced to leave communities where they have lived and worked for generations, and workers are abandoning jobs due to the inability to secure housing. The protest, while largely peaceful, saw police interventions resulting in injuries. At least eight individuals were treated by emergency services, with two taken to a hospital with minor injuries. One of the injured was a photographer who reportedly received a head injury during a confrontation with a police officer, as captured in several videos. Witnesses included Vicenç Vidal, a deputy from Més per Mallorca in Congress, who shared footage of the clashes on social media and called for the resignation of the Delegate of Government, Alonso Rodríguez. He accused the PSIB-PSOE of enabling the situation. Neither the government delegation nor the National Police confirmed whether arrests were made during the incidents by midnight.