Palma.The President of the Balearics yesterday unveiled his government's plan to save 347.9 million euros this year in order to match the deficit target set by central government, however, such harsh cuts were not expected and thousands are expected to vent their anger in today's May Day march through Palma with police yesterday preparing for a situation of maximum tension on the streets.
The two bombshells are the closure of the Hospital General and the Juan March Hospital with patients being moved to the Red Cross and the recently expanded and reformed San Juan de Dios hospitals and parts of the closed Son Dureta are going to be brought back into operation next year to cope with any overspill.
But, Bauza also unveiled a wave of cuts in government spending and redundancies, a shake up of the educational system and the closure of a number of government departments.
Civil servants are also going to have to work more hours for less money, their 35-hour week is going to be increased to 37.5 and certain short term benefits for the disabled or temporarily unemployed are also going to be scrapped. With the proposed shake-up to the educational system, Bauza aims to save just over 35 million euros and another wave of cuts to the Ib-salut Balearic health service should save the government an extra 80 million euros.
The free parking at Son Espases hospital is also going to be scrapped and certain facilities, such as rooms and operating theatres will be available for hire by other medical institutions.
As one would expect, the reaction from both the health and education sectors was not good yesterday with medical unions slamming the cuts claiming that the government considers the health system an easy target. Only on Sunday did hundreds of people demonstrate over central government cuts through Palma and today's march is going to be a bitter one.
Class sizes are to be increased, suggesting that the number of teachers could be reduced, while supply teachers are to have their wages cut with some not eligible for payment during the summer holidays.
Vice-president and Minister for Finance, Josep Ignasi Aguilo, revealed that a number of government ministries are also going to have their budgets reduced to save a little over 74 million euros.
The Presidential Affairs office will lose 11.3 million euros, Environment 23.5 and the Ministry for Public Administration, 14.5 million euros. The Minister for Health, Carmen Castro, was quick to rule out any job losses as a result of the closure of the two hospitals, although the number of interns and student nurses may have to be reduced.
The unions and opposition parties are furious.
The cuts were described as making no sense what so ever by left wing politicians while the unions went as far as claiming that they are undemocratic and anti constitutional and for those reasons should be withdrawn.
What is for sure is that the Balearic government has a serious battle on its hands now.
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