The Consell Insular de Formentera (Formentera Council) is the governing body of the island of Formentera, which acts both as city council and island council of the island of Formentera.
History of the Council of Formentera
The Consell de Formentera was created for the first time in 2007, after the approval of the new Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands.
The Consell of Formentera was officially established 45 days after the municipal elections of that year, which were held on May 27th. The council therefore came into operation on July 10 of the same year 2007. It is regulated by the Law of Island Councils of the Balearic Islands.
The council of Formentera arose as a result of the separation from its predecessor council, the Consell Insular de Eivissa y Formentera, like it was regulated by the autonomous statute in force in the balearic islands until 2007. The proposal to create an island Council only for the island of Formentera that was separate from that of the island of Ibiza was approved in the municipal plenary session of Formentear on December 15, 2005, and was included in Article 60 of the autonomos statute of the Balearic Islands approved on June 13, 2006 (the so-called Law 1/2007).
The first Council of Formentera was constituted on July 10, 2007, using as its headquarters the old cinema of Sant Francesc Xavier (the current capital of the island), and chose Jaume Ferrer Ribas, candidate of the “Gent per Formentera” formation, as president.
The Council de Formentera is made up of 17 councilors, who are also councilors of the municipality of Sant Francesc.
The law that allows the Consell de Formentera to come into being
Spanish organic Law 1/2007, of February 28, 2007, which approves the reform of the Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands, provided for the creation of an island council for the island of Formentera.
Its application, therefore, materialized on July 10, 2007, with the inauguration of the first corporation resulting from the municipal elections held in June of that same year and the full assumption of powers by the institution on January 1, 2008.
Current government of Formentera
The government team of Formentera is currently formed by a coalition between “Gent per Formentera” (People for Formentera) and PSIB Partit Socialista de les Illes Balears (Socialist Party for the Balearic Islands). The next elections will be held in 2023.
Functions of the Consell de Formentera
The Consell has competences for the management of certain aspects at a territorial and administrative level. Part of the island’s security also depends on the Consell, as the Formentera Local Police depends on this body.