The high cost of housing and living in the Balearic Islands is making it harder to attract and retain Guardia Civil officers, according to Alejandro Hernández Mosquera, who formally took office as general chief of the force’s 17th Zone on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Sa Nostra Foundation in Palma, Hernández Mosquera pledged to work with public administrations and the private sector to find housing solutions for officers posted to the archipelago. He stressed that filling vacancies is not enough if personnel cannot establish a stable life in the islands.
“It's not enough to fill the staffing positions. We need Guardia Civil officers to want to come to the islands, develop their professional careers here and find the right conditions to stay with their families,” he said.
His remarks place accommodation and long-term staff retention among the priorities for the Guardia Civil in the Balearic Islands, where housing affordability has become a significant challenge for workers across several sectors.
Housing and the Cost of Living Challenge
Hernández Mosquera acknowledged that the high cost of living, particularly housing, remains an obstacle to making the Balearic Islands an attractive long-term posting.
He committed to pursuing solutions in cooperation with public authorities and private-sector organisations, with the aim of helping officers settle in the islands and remain there throughout their careers.
The issue is particularly relevant to Ibiza and Formentera, where limited housing availability and high rental costs can complicate accommodation arrangements for personnel arriving from mainland Spain.
In April 2026, plans for Guardia Civil housing in Ibiza were reported as part of the Ministry of the Interior’s infrastructure programme. Separately, Formentera has pursued the provision of land for additional accommodation for Guardia Civil officers. These initiatives illustrate the wider efforts to address housing needs, although their announcement does not mean the proposed homes are already available.
Housing Is Not the Only Measure Needed
The new general chief made clear that accommodation alone would not resolve the difficulties associated with postings in the Balearic Islands.
He said he would continue asking senior commanders to consider measures that could make service in the archipelago more attractive and sustainable. These include appropriate recognition of service in the islands within professional assessment criteria and preferential transfer rights where applicable.
The objective is to improve the prospects of officers who wish to build both their professional careers and their family lives in the Balearic Islands.
Hernández Mosquera also highlighted the importance of supporting officers and their families, arguing that their wellbeing is closely linked to the institution’s continuity, experience and operational effectiveness.
Island Allowance and Staffing Improvements
During his address, Hernández Mosquera welcomed the agreement between administrations concerning the improved island allowance, which is intended to recognise some of the additional challenges associated with working in the archipelago.
However, he stressed that the high cost of living continues to be an obstacle and that further measures are needed to encourage officers to take up and remain in posts across the islands.
He also pointed to progress in staffing levels, workforce planning and the modernisation of Guardia Civil facilities, while acknowledging that further work remains necessary.
A New Rank, but Continuity in Leadership
The ceremony on 23 October marked Hernández Mosquera’s formal assumption of command as a general, rather than the arrival of a new leader from outside the organisation.
He had led the Guardia Civil’s Balearic Islands command as a colonel since November 2018 and was promoted to brigadier general on 26 September 2026.
The change follows Royal Decree 398/2026, which elevated the organisational level of the Guardia Civil’s 17th Zone so that it would be led by a general officer. The Government cited the archipelago’s operational, demographic and geographical circumstances, including the demands associated with tourism, border security, ports and airports.
Hernández Mosquera described the appointment as a continuation of the work already undertaken, with renewed responsibility to strengthen the organisation and support the officers serving throughout the Balearic Islands.