A tense municipal debate took place in Sant Antoni de Portmany over the controversial private Egyptian-themed party held at Sa Pedrera de Can Coix on August 13, with the opposition PSOE calling for the resignation of Mayor Marcos Serra and the governing PP defending its handling of the event.

The dispute centres on how the event was authorised, what was included in the technical documentation and what the municipality knew about the large-scale setup.

PSOE Calls for Mayor's Resignation

During Thursday's plenary session, PSOE spokesperson Raúl Díaz presented a motion containing 15 questions about the event and ultimately called for Serra's resignation.

The opposition accused the mayor and his government of mismanagement, lack of transparency and failing to properly enforce regulations. The PSOE also questioned how an event of this scale could have been processed as a non-permanent, low-impact activity.

Among the issues raised were the event's structures, insurance documentation, noise exemption, safety requirements and the presence of an artificial lake.

The Artificial Lake

One of the most disputed points was the artificial lake reportedly created as part of the Egyptian-themed setting.

The PSOE argued that the technical documentation submitted before the event contained multiple plans identifying an area as “water”, and therefore questioned the mayor's previous statement that the municipality did not know a real lake would be installed.

The opposition also questioned reports that around 170 tonnes of water were transported for the installation, particularly given Ibiza's water restrictions. Noudiari notes that this figure comes from press reports and has not been officially verified by the municipality.

Town Hall Defends Its Handling

Sant Antoni's councillor for Activities, Eva Prats, defended the municipal government's actions.

She said the event was authorised under the applicable framework for temporary activities and argued that the opposition had interpreted the relevant regulations incorrectly.

Regarding the water, Prats said the municipality did not have information indicating that real water would be used to create a lake, as the documentation did not specify its volume or type. She said the council is examining whether the use of water could result in a sanction if it is confirmed that it was used improperly.

The council also defended the safety measures and said the necessary documentation and technical certifications were addressed.

Mayor Says There Was “No Secrecy”

Marcos Serra rejected accusations of secrecy or preferential treatment.

The mayor said the event had an administrative file containing documentation and reports and argued that its organisation, location, theme and expected attendance were known.

He also clarified that the €199 paid was an administrative processing fee, not a payment to rent the municipal space. Serra acknowledged that the fee may be insufficient and said the municipality is working on a new tax ordinance covering the use of municipal spaces.

He also defended the event's charitable element, noting that the organisers made a €50,000 donation, with €40,000 going to Cáritas Sant Antoni and €10,000 to the Motoclub.

However, Serra stressed that a donation does not buy an authorisation or permit anyone to bypass regulations.

A Wider Debate Over the Event

The controversy follows several weeks of scrutiny surrounding the private celebration, which reportedly included an elaborate Egyptian-themed installation featuring a large pyramid, obelisks, a temple and other structures.

The event was organised by Bronson and Mimi van Wyck for a private group of guests. Reports have differed over the final attendance, with figures ranging from around 350 to almost 500.

The latest plenary debate does not establish that the alleged irregularities occurred; rather, it reflects a political dispute between the opposition and the municipal government over the event's authorisation and oversight.

For Ibiza, the case has also raised broader questions about how private large-scale events are regulated when they take place in distinctive municipal or environmentally sensitive locations.