A Stroll In Palma De Mallorca

I was in Mallorca for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I went for a wedding so I didn't have that much time to take a look at the island and spent the entire weekend in Palma. If you stand with your back to the motorway that runs parallel to the sea and look towards the cathedral it's possible to avoid seeing any of the newer parts of the city.

With a few hours on my own on the Monday before returning to Madrid I couldn't resist the temptation to go and have a look at the building popularly known as "el palacete de Matas". This is the fine old building in the centre of Palma that was purchased by the former president of the Balearics, Jaume Matas; a man who is currently facing what could be described as certain legal difficulties concerning his period in office. It took a bit of work on internet to direct me towards the Carrer Sant Feliu.

It's claimed that Matas paid around a third of the true value of the building in question, and then refurbished it very lavishly but without apparently having to go to the trouble of paying all the bills. The most notable thing about the building, if I identified it correctly, is that the lower part houses offices of the Sindicatura de Comptes. Who are they? Nothing really, just the government agency that is supposed to ensure that public money is properly managed.

Welcome Home Mr Matas

It was quite a day in Mallorca as Jaume Matas, the former president of the Balearic Islands regional government, returned home to face what could turn out to be an impressive list of corruption related charges. Matas, who also served as environment minister in the administration of José Maria Aznar, has established his residence in the US since losing power in the Balearics; something not that surprising given everything that has emerged about how the islands were run under his control.

The main issue which the judge is dealing with is the huge scandal over the construction of the Palma Arena. But Matas will almost certainly face questions over the luxuriously fitted mansion that he owns in Palma, a large and noble property which he managed to acquire for less than a million euros even though the taxman believes it to be worth almost three times that figure. Also under inspection is what on the face of it appears to be a remarkably frugal lifestyle. Based on the movements in his bank accounts, Matas managed to meet all of his expenses during three years with less than €500. An example to us all, captives as we are of relentless consumerism.

The Balearics could probably claim to be in the lead in terms of the number of politicians facing corruption related charges. To use a currently popular phrase, that puts them in the Champions League. The Partido Popular on the islands has effectively had to find an entire new leadership given that so many leading figures associated with the previous regime are currently facing charges. Unió Mallorquina, a party which has been in the happy position of lending its support to governments led by the PP and the PSOE, has recently also been decapitated as its leading figures face corruption charges. All of which has left the current administration in a minority, with the possibility of the PP then returning to power at the next election.

Matas was supposed to declare today but the judge gave him until tomorrow so that his defence could study fresh evidence. If things go badly for him, he may be spending tomorrow night in accommodation significantly less elegant and comfortable than that of his mansion. Although no one will try to break in. The PP at national level is just looking the other way whilst party leader Mariano Rajoy decides whether to burn those holiday snaps of him and Jaume enjoying their summer holidays together on Mallorca. Nobody in the party seems to be rushing to put "la mano en el fuego" for Matas.

Cycling Across Mallorca

So where were we? Oh yes, the Palma Arena. Mallorca's government decided a few years ago that what the island really needed was an international class indoor cycling arena - a "velódromo" for those as keen as I am to add to their Spanish vocabulary. Originally the Arena was budgeted to cost a little over 40 milllion euros. That seems quite a lot for a cycling arena, but it turns out that the final cost has been more like 110 million. No explanation can be found for the increase and no documentation appears to exist showing where the money went. All of this led to the arrest last week of several prominent members of the Partido Popular in Mallorca. The suspicion is of serious embezzlement coupled with the added possibility of illegal funding of the PP. It is the latest of a whole series of cases in the last few years involving the local administration headed by former Aznar minister Jaume Matas, who had the good sense to head off to the US as soon as he lost power in the last elections.

All sorts of events are held at the Palma Arena. Except cycling competitions. Despite the 70 million euro overspend it seems that the track was built with cheap wood and doesn't come up to international standards. Never mind, there's always the concerts. Those accused of dodgy dealings concerning the velódromo have been busily engaged in another popular Spanish sport known as "echando balones fuera", and they claim the overspend was necessary to correct the original project - designed by the same man who managed to provide Beijing with a perfectly usable Olympic cycling arena. The arrests more or less coincided with the miraculous saving of the honourable Mr Camps and the subsequent announcement that the prosecutors would appeal that decision.

This rollercoaster of events has sent the PP into hysterical overdrive with the accusation that the government is orchestrating a vicious campaign against the party. Much has been made by the PP of their members being taken before the judge in handcuffs. Here they are being treated as if they were criminals when all they are in reality is, er, suspected criminals. There are people who have been treated much worse for stealing a loaf of bread, but then they don't hold party membership cards. It has taken Mariano Rajoy with his keen sense of historical significance to introduce the Spanish Inquisition into the story. Rajoy, like other members of the PP leadership, has been issuing his declarations from his August holiday destination. Presumably the Inquisition have brought out that most lethal of all weapons, the comfy deckchair!

Leading the charge from the PP chiringuito has been the inevitable Federico Trillo, who claims to have definitive proof of illegal espionage against his party. Trillo's case is not standing up well to examination. His evidence consists of an alleged tape of a police officer informing Camps of the transfer of the case against him to the Valencia courts. The tape, if it really exists, is hardly evidence of espionage. Trillo also claims that a report accusing him of telephoning one of the judges involved in the Camps case is further proof of the spying. It is claimed that he was in fact talking to a PP lawyer with the same surname as the judge. Something doesn't fit here, if he was really being spied upon then presumably the original report would have got its facts right.

If anyone didn't understand at the time why Aznar's last government was so keen to disable the anti corruption prosecutors they had hailed when in opposition, there can be little doubt about it now. The roots of much of what is emerging lie in the "we are the masters now" arrogance of that government. Trillo and other PP leaders are seeking to create a political climate which pardons corruption, based on the sad fact that their supporters seem willing to continue voting for them regardless, and this odd insistence that for every PP member accused of corruption at least one prominent member of the PSOE should resign. This has to be the most comfortable group of "persecuted" people outside of the international banking system. Whether the profits of their work lie inside or outside of that same system has yet to be established. The investigation continues.

Alternative Investment Plans

If the Spanish government's decision today to guarantee bank deposits up to €100,000 doesn't satisfy you, then allow me to recommend BINBAGS - the Balearic Investment Banking and Gardening System. It's quite simple to join, especially if you are the proud owner of many of those elusive €500 notes that the Spanish government would like to see circulating a bit more legally. All you need to get started is, er, a high level position or contact with the previous PP run administration in the Balearic Islands regional government, a wooden box, a bin bag (of course!), a garden, and preferably a spade to guarantee your deposit. Also, there's no commission - because you've already received it!