The president of the government of the Illes Balears, Marga Prohens (Partit Popular), pledged on Tuesday in the Parlament in Palma that the homes in the Can Escandell on Ibiza project were “sí o sí” for local residents. The statement came during questions to the government, including follow-up questions from MP José María García (Unidas Podemos) and the spokesperson for MÉS per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia. Prohens was referring to around 532 planned units, which are to be built as publicly subsidised rental homes.
The pledge comes against the backdrop of an intense debate in Ibiza over allocation criteria that has been under way for several days. On 18 September, government spokesperson Antoni Costa announced that the Balearic government would prioritise applicants who had lived on the island for at least five years. The Consell d’Eivissa and the island’s five municipalities soon unanimously called for the priority period to be extended to ten years. Further controversy was sparked by a comment from Spain’s housing minister, Isabel Rodríguez who said residents should not automatically be given priority; the remark drew strong criticism in Ibiza.
With her clarification in the plenary session, Prohens sharpened the regional government’s position in an area where central and regional rules intersect. On islands with particularly strained housing markets, local politicians and the Consell d’Eivissa argue that without a clear priority rule for permanent residents, people will move away and essential professions will face staff shortages. Opposition voices also warn of perverse incentives and possible windfall benefits if allocation criteria contain loopholes; Prohens rejected this and referred to an accelerated programme for a total of 10,000 affordable homes during the current legislature.
It remains unclear how the political pledge will be translated into legally robust criteria. In particular, the minimum period of residence, the design of a points system and the precise definition of eligible groups will need to be established. What is set out in future calls for applications and publications in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands will be decisive. Project sources say that infrastructure works are under way, while construction of the buildings is expected to start in 2027. No binding allocation or assignment rules were available at the time of the parliamentary debate. Prohens said she would use all legally sound and effective measures to ensure that residents are given priority in practice.
The dispute over Can Escandell thus exemplifies the search for island-specific solutions in social housing – balancing local needs, regional coordination and national guidelines.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).