Majorca Socialist Party
Encyclopedia
The Majorca Socialist Party is a political party
in Majorca, Spain
. The PSM defines itself as socialist
, environmentalist
, and Catalan nationalist
, from a Majorcan point of view.
PSM was founded in 1976 as the Balearic Island's Socialist Party (Partit Socialista de les Illes-PSI). In December 1977 it renamed itself Partit Socialista de Mallorca (PSM). Unlike most of the other Spanish socialist parties, PSM refused to join the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
(PSOE).
It advocates the self-determination
and the freedom of the Balearic Island's, with social justice, to increase the identity and the self-government
of the archipielago. It also calls for a closer relationship with the other Catalan Countries
, now forbidden to be achieved in a confederation of three Spanish autonomous communities
by the Spanish constitution
(art.145). Therefore its political ascription is a Majorcan political party, regionalist
or progressive
-stateless nationalist, environmental
, socialist
and democratic
.
In 1989 it strengthened an alliance with other progressive and nationalist parties of Minorca
and Ibiza
, Partit Socialista de Menorca (Socialist Party of Minorca) and l'Entesa Nacionalista Ecologista de Eivissa (Environmental and Nacionalist Agreement of Ibiza), summing up other local progressive and nationalist parties. The name of the alliance was PSM-Entesa Nacionalista (PSM-Nationalist Agreement
). Its representation in the autonomous parliament was between 7% and 15% of the votes.
Usually as an opposition party, PSM belonged in the Majorca Government from 1995 until 2003, and in the Balearic Islands Government from 1999 until 2003. In both governments, with other progressive Spanish parties.
In the 2004 Spanish general elections, PSM was in a coalition in the Balearic Islands electoral district with United Left-Esquerra Unida
, Balearic Islands' Green Party-Els Verds de les Illes Balears
, and Republican Left of Catalonia, as the Balearic Island's Progressive coalition (Progressistes per les Illes Balears) This coalition obtained 40,289 votes (12%). However, no representation in the Spanish central parliament
was obtained.
In 2007, this coalition was enlarged, making up the new coalition "Majorca's Bloc" (Bloc per Mallorca) with the same allies of the former Balearic Island's Progressive coalition. The coalition got 4 MPs (14%) in the Balearic Parliament (2 of them PSM). After negotiations, PSM and the other Bloc's parties, decided to enter in the autonomous government, with PSOE and Majorcan Union (liberal regionalists), leaving the People's Party
(conservatives) in the opposition.
In 2008, the party decided to change their allies for the Spanish general elections. Its allies were then Majorcan Union, Republican Left of Catalonia and Entesa per Mallorca (former PSM members). The coalition United Left-Esquerra Unida
refused to include them in its electoral lists. However 29% of the members wanted to follow the former alliance with Esquerra Unida and the Green Party. Most of them were members of the PSM-Left Nationalist Youth (Joves d'Esquerra Nacionalista-PSM). With less than 30,000 votes, no representation in the Spanish central parliament
was obtained.
In 2008, PSM became a full member of the European Free Alliance
(EFA).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Majorca, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The PSM defines itself as socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, and Catalan nationalist
Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
, from a Majorcan point of view.
PSM was founded in 1976 as the Balearic Island's Socialist Party (Partit Socialista de les Illes-PSI). In December 1977 it renamed itself Partit Socialista de Mallorca (PSM). Unlike most of the other Spanish socialist parties, PSM refused to join the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
(PSOE).
It advocates the self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
and the freedom of the Balearic Island's, with social justice, to increase the identity and the self-government
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
of the archipielago. It also calls for a closer relationship with the other Catalan Countries
Catalan Countries
The Catalan term Països Catalans refers to the territories where the Catalan language is spoken.The first mentions of the term date back to the late 19th century, but it never surpassed the limits of a small circle of Catalan authors until its strictly cultural dimension became increasingly...
, now forbidden to be achieved in a confederation of three Spanish autonomous communities
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
by the Spanish constitution
Spanish Constitution of 1978
-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...
(art.145). Therefore its political ascription is a Majorcan political party, regionalist
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
or progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
-stateless nationalist, environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
In 1989 it strengthened an alliance with other progressive and nationalist parties of Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
and Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, Partit Socialista de Menorca (Socialist Party of Minorca) and l'Entesa Nacionalista Ecologista de Eivissa (Environmental and Nacionalist Agreement of Ibiza), summing up other local progressive and nationalist parties. The name of the alliance was PSM-Entesa Nacionalista (PSM-Nationalist Agreement
PSM-Nationalist Agreement
The PSM - Nationalist Agreement is a democratic socialist, environmentalist and Catalan nationalist political party of the Balearic Isles, Spain...
). Its representation in the autonomous parliament was between 7% and 15% of the votes.
Usually as an opposition party, PSM belonged in the Majorca Government from 1995 until 2003, and in the Balearic Islands Government from 1999 until 2003. In both governments, with other progressive Spanish parties.
In the 2004 Spanish general elections, PSM was in a coalition in the Balearic Islands electoral district with United Left-Esquerra Unida
United Left (Spain)
The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain...
, Balearic Islands' Green Party-Els Verds de les Illes Balears
Confederation of The Greens
The Confederation of the Greens is a green political party in Spain....
, and Republican Left of Catalonia, as the Balearic Island's Progressive coalition (Progressistes per les Illes Balears) This coalition obtained 40,289 votes (12%). However, no representation in the Spanish central parliament
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
was obtained.
In 2007, this coalition was enlarged, making up the new coalition "Majorca's Bloc" (Bloc per Mallorca) with the same allies of the former Balearic Island's Progressive coalition. The coalition got 4 MPs (14%) in the Balearic Parliament (2 of them PSM). After negotiations, PSM and the other Bloc's parties, decided to enter in the autonomous government, with PSOE and Majorcan Union (liberal regionalists), leaving the People's Party
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(conservatives) in the opposition.
In 2008, the party decided to change their allies for the Spanish general elections. Its allies were then Majorcan Union, Republican Left of Catalonia and Entesa per Mallorca (former PSM members). The coalition United Left-Esquerra Unida
United Left (Spain)
The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain...
refused to include them in its electoral lists. However 29% of the members wanted to follow the former alliance with Esquerra Unida and the Green Party. Most of them were members of the PSM-Left Nationalist Youth (Joves d'Esquerra Nacionalista-PSM). With less than 30,000 votes, no representation in the Spanish central parliament
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
was obtained.
In 2008, PSM became a full member of the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
(EFA).
PSM-Balearic Government candidates
- 1983: Sebastià Serra
- 1987: Sebastià Serra
- 1991: Mateu Morro
- 1995: Pere Sampol
- 1999: Pere Sampol
- 2003: Pere Sampol
- 2007: Gabriel Barceló (Bloc per Mallorca coalition)