Antich set to stand as PSOE leader in 2011

PALMA
THE Socialist party in the Balearic Islands (PSIB-PSOE) has asked current President Francesc Antich to lead them into the regional elections of 2011 - a request he gladly accepted, Party Secretary Rosamaria Alberdi said yesterday.

Alberdi said that the PSIB-PSOE members had voted unanimously at their Policy Board meeting to re-elect Antich as their head in view of what they described as his “fine leadership” in running the present Balearic government. The party, said Alberdi, strongly believed in Antich's ability to carry through his vision of a socialist future, even whilst battling an economic crisis and political corruption.

Alberdi said there had been a party atmosphere at the meeting and a warm round of applause was given to Antich when he accepted the proposal of re-election.

However, Antich's standing for the 2011 elections will have to be ratified by national party leadership, and the nominees for the Socialist leadership of the Council of Majorca and Palma City Council have yet to be made. Alberdi said though that they would almost certainly be the same as now: Francina Armengol (Council of Majorca) and Aina Calvo.