Palma and Madrid clash over commercial law

The battle lines are drawn between the Balearic and central government over the new Commercial Law. Madrid has taken the Balearics' new commercial law to court. Yesterday the Balearic government warned the Constitutional Tribunal that suspending the law “will cause irreparable damage” to the region's commercial sector. The Balearic government is deeply opposed to the further development of shopping centres and superstores on the grounds that it would mark the end for small shopkeepers. But, in accordance with free market legislation passed by Madrid earlier this year, suspending the Balearic commercial law, will open the flood gates to boom in shopping complexes. In defence of the law, the Balearic government handed in a 70-page document to the Constitutional Tribunal in Madrid yesterday; ironically the same court in which the Balearic Tourist Tax is also being challenged by central government.