Mayor of Palma confirms he will not be standing again

Palma.—The Mayor of Palma, Mateo Isern, ended weeks of speculation yesterday when he finally confirmed that he will not be seeking reelection next May.
Isern said that his decision is based on the fact that he can not count on the “unanimous support of the party”  but,  his true motives are throught to go much deeper than that.
When the Partido Popular won  the last  local elections, Isern and the President of the Balearics, Jose Ramon Bauza, were very close political allies and friends, however, it appears that the relationship has deteriorated between the two, to the point where Bauza announced a few months ago that he wanted an  alternative candidate for Palma.
The reasons for the personal split remain unknown, but what is now confirmed, is that Isern will be standing down as mayor.
Apparently, Isern told Bauza and the President of the Balearic branch of the PP, Jose Maria Rodriguez of his decision during a meeting a   few weeks ago, but wanted to talk to party officials in Madrid before making his announcement.
Initially he was prepared to leave it to Madrid to make the decision, but, according to Isern, he clearly does not have the support of the local party and therefore  said he has decided to put the party first.