Més per Mallorca explained

Més per Mallorca
Country:Spain
Secretary General:David Abril
Bel Busquets
Founded:24 October 2010 (as a coalition)
12 July 2013 (as a party)
Position:Left-wing
National:Unidos Podemos (2016)
Sumar (since 2023)
Regional:Ara Més (since 2022)
Sumar Més (since 2023)
Seats1 Title:Congress of Deputies
Seats2 Title:Spanish Senate
Seats4 Title:Balearic Parliament
Seats5 Title:Council of Majorca
Seats6 Title:Mayors
Seats7 Title:Town councilors

Més per Mallorca (English: More for Majorca, MÉS)[1] is a Majorcan political coalition formed by the Socialist Party of Majorca (PSM), IniciativaVerds (IV) and Entesa per Mallorca (ExM), as well as other small local parties around the island. It was established in 2010 by the PSM, Left Initiative (Iniciativa) and The Greens (EV) under the name PSM–Iniciativa–Verds. After the merger of Iniciativa and EV into IV in 2010, and with the incorporation of ExM in 2011, it was renamed as PSM–IniciativaVerds–Entesa. In 2013, the current name was adopted.

History

PSM–Iniciativa–Verds was created as an electoral coalition in an effort to unite the ecologist and progressive Majorcan nationalist political organisations under a common platform after the dissolution of the Bloc for Majorca (Bloc). In summer 2010, an electoral coalition between the PSM, Iniciativa and EV was established to run the 2011 regional election. In November 2010, Iniciativa and EV merged to become IV, and in early 2011 ExM joined the coalition, renaming it to PSM–IV–Entesa.

At the 2011 regional election, the coalition received 36,149 votes, which translated to four seats in the Parliament of the Balearic Islands. Additionally, it obtained four seats in the Council of Majorca, and three seats in the Palma City Council.

On 2 February 2013, the members of the coalition's three member parties gathered in an open assembly and decided to take the coalition a step further, adopting a "call document" as well as the current name Més per Mallorca. On 26 October 2013, coalition members participated in another assembly where a set of Operating Rules were adopted and an executive commission was elected, with Biel Barceló (PSM) as general coordinator and co-spokesperson, and Fina Santiago (IV) as co-spokesperson.

On 24 May 2015, the coalition got the greatest historical result by any of its member parties in the regional election, receiving 59,069 votes (14%) and 6 out of the 33 seats in the Mallorca electoral district.[2]

In April 2016, David Abril (IV) and Bel Busquets (PSM) were elected co-spokespersons.[3]

In March 2017, a fraudulent contract to the campaign manager of Més made by Barceló, Vice President of the Government, appeared in the media.[4] This fact created a crisis in the Government and ended up with the resignation of the Regional Minister of Transparency, Ruth Mateu, and the withdrawal of her party, More for Menorca, from the Government,[5] although remaining as an outer supporter.[6] In December 2017, Barceló was accused of accepting a personal travel as a gift. This fact, along with controversies and internal disputes since March, made him resign as Vice President and Regional Minister of Tourism,[7] [8] being relieved by Busquets.[9]

In June 2018, Miquel Ensenyat (PSM), president of the Island Council of Majorca, won Més primaries over Santiago, Regional Minister of Social Services, thus becoming its candidate for the 2019 regional election.[10]

Member parties

Electoral performance

Parliament of the Balearic Islands

DateVotesSeatsStatusSize
%±pp±
201559,61713.8%+5.22Government4th
201939,4159.2%–4.62Government5th
202337,6518.4%–0.80Opposition4th

Island Council of Majorca

DateVotesSeatsStatusSize
%±pp±
201559,99217.3%+6.82Government3rd
201942,69212.7%–4.62Government3rd
202342,19711.7%–1.00TBD4th

Cortes Generales

Balearic Islands

Congress of Deputies
DateVotesSeatsSize
%±pp±
201533,8777.0%–0.205th
2016118,08225.4%N/A0
Apr. 201925,3844.9%N/A0
Nov. 201918,2954.0%N/A0
 
Senate
DateSeatsSize
±
201505th
20160
Apr. 20190
Nov. 20190

Notes and References

  1. Ross, C., Richardson, B., Sangrador-Vegas, B. (2016) Contemporary Spain, p. 107
  2. http://www.resultatseleccions2015.caib.es/04AU/DAU04999CM_L2.htm Govern de les Illes Balears. Resultats totals.
  3. News: David Abril y Bel Busquets, nuevos coportavoces de MÉS per Mallorca . Europa Press . Spanish . 16 April 2016 . 16 November 2017.
  4. News: Fuerte malestar en Més al enterarse del contrato de Barceló a su jefe de campaña . Diario de Mallorca . Spanish . 28 March 2017 . 16 November 2017.
  5. News: MÉS per Menorca decide salir del Govern . Última Hora . Spanish . 31 March 2017 . 16 November 2017.
  6. News: Més per Menorca asegura que "no dejará en minoría al Govern balear" . Diario de Mallorca . Spanish . 28 March 2017 . 16 November 2017.
  7. News: Barceló cae tras perder el apoyo de Més y de Armengol por sus vacaciones pagadas al Caribe . Diario de Mallorca . Spanish . 13 December 2017 . 13 December 2017.
  8. News: Una crisi MÉS . Ara Balears . Catalan . 13 December 2017 . 13 December 2017.
  9. News: Bel Busquets jura el cargo y releva a Biel Barceló en la vicepresidencia del Govern . Ara Balears . Catalan . 18 December 2017 . 21 December 2017.
  10. News: Ensenyat barre a Fina Santiago y será el candidato de Més en 2019 . Diario de Mallorca . Spanish . 10 June 2018 . 10 June 2018.