Cashing in MARGA PROHENS TAKES CHARGE

MALLORCA registered the highest ever tourist expenditure between January and May this year.

Figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that this has been the best start to the year since records began in terms of spending and arrivals of both national and international visitors.

According to the INE, visitors to the Balearic Islands spent nearly €4.6 billion over the first five months of the year ­ a 25 per cent increase with regards to the previous record, established in 2019.

More than 4.6 million visitors landed in the region between January and May, which is also the highest figure ever recorded.

MARGA PROHENS was sworn in as the new President of the Balearic Islands on Friday July 7.

She takes over from former Govern leader Francina Armengol (PSOE) following her victory in the regional elections held at the end of May.

In her first speech as president, Prohens (PP) vowed to “bring the change that the people have asked for” and to “govern for everyone and for the four islands, aware of our plural and diverse reality.

“I will stand up for this region and its people, and I aim to put the best men and women at its service,” added the new president.

However, her first decisions at the head of the Govern were met with controversy this week, as she eliminated the Environment department and announced that its functions would be shared out among other councillors.

Prohens explained that this move will save the regional coffers €1 million a year by bringing the number of government departments down from 11 to 10.

The presentation of her new executive also caused raised eyebrows as it features more men than women, doing away with the policy of equal representation of both genders.

In another highly controversial move, the new regional president scrapped the Linguistic Policy department and eliminated all references to protecting or promoting the Catalan language.