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The Chairman of gas and electricity company GESA, Bartomeu Reus, went before the Balearic parliament yesterday, to explain what has been going on over the past two weeks with regards to the Balearic power supply, but his explanation and apologies to the general public were overshadowed by claims that the power problems are all part of a conspiracy by central government in Madrid to undermine the left-wing coalition's authority by fuelling anger and discontent amongst the local electorate. Socialist MP, Antonio Jose Dieguez, yesterday accused Reus, who was a minister under the Partido Popular government led by Gabriel Cañellas in the mid-nineties, of being part of a conspiracy co-ordinated by Partido Popular chiefs, in the Balearics and Madrid, to “generate discontent in Balearic society.” The outbreak and accusations came as a surprise to Reus who had voluntarily gone before Parliament to explain the seven power failures over the past two weeks and what measures GESA has adopted in order to meet rising demand over the summer. Dieguez said it is a “curious coincidence” that all of the public services in which the PP are involved have recently been having problems or operating badly and “increasingly annoying the general public.” The socialist MP used the behaviour of the water board EMAYA, which is controlled by the PP Palma city council, the Palma taxi strikes, the ambulance dispute and the electricity failures as prime examples of his alleged plot. Reus did interrupt Dieguez in full flow and threatened to file an official complaint if he continued with his accusations. But the socialist replied by demanding that Reus, who apparently gets paid 48 million pesetas per year, resign. Reus, in his defence, said that in the Balearics the number of power cuts is seven times less than on the mainland and called on the help of the Balearic government and all political parties to help him resolve the problem. Reus also pointed out, that ultimately any decisions over the future of Balearic power will have to be agreed upon between Madrid and Palma. Reus said that the series of power cuts since the June 15 island-wide blackout, have been “unfortunate,” admitting that the condition of the Balearic power network is “fragile.”