ELECTION BLUES

THE countdown to the next local elections is well underway and already there are fears of a poor turnout after the recent alleged cases of political corruption. High profile figures from the previous Balearic administration have been charged with mis-using government funds and many are still awaiting trial.

Opinion polls have pointed to an overall majority for the opposition Partido Popular as the Majorcan Unionists, severely hit by corruption allegations, go into election meltdown. This small party, which has acted as a match-maker for the last two decades, could be left without any representation in the Balearic parliament. Some commentators have said that the Partido Popular will take lion´s share of the Unionist vote which will give them the majority they so badly need. Then there is the ruling socialist/nationalist coalition. The socialists are expected to poll a larger share of the vote but not enough to given them victory while their nationalist bedfellows could face the same fate as the Majorcan Unionists. I suspect that, with a smaller turn-out, the Partido Popular will fall short of their target and could be left out in the cold again. This would be a nightmare scenario because few people want a return of coalition government.