Francesc Antich, former president of the Balearic Government and first socialist to lead the Balearic Islands, died Thursday in Mallorca at the age of 66, victim of cancer diagnosed in 2022. His departure leaves a deep void in the politics of the islands and within the PSIB-PSOE, the party in which he developed a career marked by consensus and social progress.
A life dedicated to public service
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, to an emigrant Mallorcan family, Antich returned to Algaida, his parents’ hometown, where he began his political career. He was mayor of the town between 1991 and 1997, before becoming president of the Balearic Government on two occasions: between 1999 and 2003, and from 2007 to 2011. In both mandates he led the Pacte de Progrés, a coalition that marked a before and after in Balearic politics.
Throughout his career, he held important positions as secretary general of the PSIB-PSOE, councilor of the Consell de Mallorca, deputy in Congress and senator for the Balearic Islands. His work in autonomic and national institutions consolidated him as a referent of socialism in the islands.
Funeral chapel and farewell
The Consolat de Mar, headquarters of the Balearic Government, will open this Friday at 4:30 pm the funeral chapel to pay tribute to the former president. His final farewell will be on Saturday in the cemetery of Algaida, where he lived most of his life and where he was mayor.
Policy reactions
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, lamented the loss of Antich, highlighting his ability to open paths of dialogue and progress. “He taught us to govern without fear of the future,” said Sánchez, who recalled his legacy as an example for future generations. The president of the Congress and secretary general of the PSIB-PSOE, Francina Armengol, expressed her personal grief by describing Antich as her teacher and lighthouse. “All of him is a lesson of life and love for our country. My tribute will be to always be loyal to what he taught me,” she posted on her social networks. For her part, the president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, highlighted his role in the construction of autonomy and the reform of the Statute, stressing that his legacy transcends political acronyms.
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