“In the course of the institutional crisis suffered by the Consell Insular de Formentera since November 2023, there have been violations of the principles and values proclaimed by the Code of Ethics.” That is the main conclusion of the report of the Code of Ethics and Good Governance Commission in relation to the conflict in which the Consell has been immersed for more than a year. The report presented this Thursday at a plenary session of the Consell de Formentera is non-binding. However, it is a new argument on which the opposition is based to demand the resignation of President Llorenç Córdoba, who has already requested the nullity of the report.
The full text of the Code of Ethics and Good Governance Commission Report
In fact, the text states that “it is not up to this Commission to propose possible political solutions to solve the present institutional crisis”. However, it emphasizes that over the last few months there have been various violations that “affect, in particular, integrity, impartiality, subjective disinterest, respect, responsibility, institutional loyalty, transparency and sustainability”. And that it is the duty of those responsible for the crisis to take action to avoid “damaging the institutional image of the Council or affecting its reputation”. In this sense, the report criticizes especially the situation of “indefinite unipersonality” that occurs after the president of the Council, Llorenc Cordoba, was left alone after the break with Sa Unió. According to the text, this undermines the “efficiency and professionalism of the Consell. But beyond the damage that the political situation generates in the institution and in citizen confidence, the report points out, “this crisis has translated into serious practical consequences for citizens”. As examples, the report cites the absolute paralysis of licenses for major works on rural land or licenses affected by the legislation of Historical Heritage on urban land, the impossibility of imposing very serious penalties in the area of competence of the Council and the paralysis of the allocation of mooring to l’Estany des Peix. The report concludes: “Therefore, the Code of Ethics Commission of the Island Council of Formentera urges all those responsible for the current institutional crisis, in compliance with the duties (ethical, but unavoidable) that the Code, to which they are subject, imposes on them in its preamble, to exercise a “leadership and explicit, clear and decisive commitment” and take the decisions that, in ‘exclusive benefit of the public interest’, are necessary to immediately put an end to it.
The ten “investigated” items
The report analyzes a dozen statements and documents -several of them are investigations by La Voz de Ibiza-from November 3, 2023 (when the Formentera crisis began) and September 3, 2024, These ten points are:
- The recording by Mr. José Alcaraz Escandell of the conversation held with the President of the Consell Insular de Formentera, Mr. Lorenzo Córdoba Marí, on November 4, 2023.
- The request of the President of the Consell Insular, Mr. Lorenzo Córdoba Marí, for additional remuneration.
- Disrepute and lack of respect for the work of public officials of the Consell Insular de Formentera.
- Unjustified delay in the approval of the minutes of the March 25 meeting of the Board of Directors.
- Leaks of documents and files to the media.
- Lack of communication and respect between Mr. President and the councilors.
- Resignation/cessation of members of the government team and continuity in the use of computer equipment and media.
- Appointment to a position with a potential conflict of interest.
- The existence of secret pre-electoral agreements.
- Use of public resources for private or partisan purposes.
