Difficult times

THE Majorcan public are not impressed by the Jaume Matas alleged corruption case which has seen the former Balearic leader pay a three million euro bail to escape prison. Matas is accused of mis-using public funds and many are amazed that a person with a relatively low income was able to raise such a large sum. His lifestyle and his luxury homes have also come under scrutiny. The general concensus of opinion is that if he has taken any money from public coffers then he should repay it.

Judging by the public mood at the moment there is a danger of a possible backlash against politicians especially as Spain is still in the midst of a severe recession with unemployment close to 20 percent. Matas gave his first media interview this week in which he denied all the allegations, claiming that he was only guilty of tax evasion and saying that he has now lost his job in the United States as a result of the case. Obviously, there wasn´t much sympathy for him. He did say, though, that so far he has not been convicted of any crime. On this front he is right but some sections of the general public have already convicted him. Matas, who came just a whisker away from being re-elected Balearic leader, is now one of the most unpopular people in the Balearics.