Socialist Government Calls for Review of Vox Poster on the Balearic Islands

Dispute over the poster: Government asks judiciary to review

For days, neighbors in Palma and across to Mahón have been discussing one of these large election posters that suddenly appear at roundabouts and bus stops. The representation of the Spanish central government on the Balearics — led by Alfonso Rodríguez Badal — has informed the public prosecutor's office and asked to clarify whether certain messages on the billboards could be classified as hate crimes or as another offense.

What exactly is being criticized

It is not only about political content but about passages and image motifs that, in the government's view, could violate the locally enshrined right to non-discrimination. The delegation has also sent a letter to the town halls and recommended checking whether putting up the posters is compatible with local regulations — in plain terms: permits, distances, content.

You can feel the tension on the street. Residents on the Avinguda de Palma say they saw flyers with strong wording in the morning. A taxi driver who has known the island for 20 years shrugged: 'Politics has always been loud here, but this time it's different.'

Reactions and accusations

The party involved, meanwhile, reported an incident on Menorca: reportedly one of their billboards in Mahón was smeared with the colors of the Palestinian flag. In a statement, party representatives warned that a picture was emerging, 'some wanted a Spain like Palestine' — a comparison that further inflames the debate.

Politically, the situation is complicated: The conservative PP governs the Balearics without its own majority and relies on support from the right-wing populist party. That makes local decisions sensitive and leads to a permanent tension between town halls, the regional government, and Madrid.

What could happen now

The public prosecutor's office must now assess whether the contested content is criminally relevant. At the same time, the municipalities are examining their local rules. It is not unusual for such cases to involve lengthy procedures: complaints, expert reports, administrative steps — and at the end often a very banal decision about whether a poster must be removed or not.

For many residents, the question remains: How much room should political provocation have before it becomes a problem for social cohesion? On the streets you can sense that the debate is far from over.