Water returns to haunt the Balearic coalition

The Balearic coalition government is on the brink of another split over water and desalination plants. The Majorcan Union party, led by President of the Insular Council of Majorca, Maria Antonia Munar, who also hold three key seats to the left-wing coalition, has come out supporting the Environment Minister, Jaume Matas's proposal to build three new desalination plants in the Balearics, plans included in the new controversial National Water Plan. Antich warned that if the UM party favours Matas's plan, “it is moving away from the coalition's policies.” Antich underlined yesterday that the coalition has agreed that during this current term it would only support more desalination plants as a last resort, which is why the government has only agreed to two new plants in Majorca but none in either Minorca nor Ibiza. “We are only to going to allow desalination plants when and where necessary,” Antich said, adding that a new water infrastructure needs to be established first in Majorca's neighbouring islands.