The absence of funding from Valencia has led to some schools being left without electricity and others having no money for basic resources or unable to replace teachers who are absent. Las Culturas is struggling on a week-by-week basis. So how have they been managing? A representative from the school explained: "The only way we are able to keep the school running is through using the money that people contribute towards lunch. Without this we would have nothing. We would not be able to buy paper for the photocopier or even toilet paper.” The cut in resources has had immediate effects, while other cut backs will have longer-term implications. Teacher pay and conditions are being … [Read more...] about Schools protest as Valencia fails to pay up
Archives for January 2012
La Liga: Málaga find form
The second Andalusian derby in just over a week saw not only local bragging rights at stake but with one point separating them in the standings, Málaga and Sevilla were each looking to strike a psychological blow in the race for a European place. Both clubs have been struggling of late and with the race for Europe only set to intensify, it was a heated affair. Over the summer Málaga coach Manuel Pellegrini brought in former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy and he spoke enthusiastically of the team that the club are building. The high-profile signing brought much attention but for the 35-year-old, goals are a lot harder to come by than they used to be and he … [Read more...] about La Liga: Málaga find form
Amar y Vivir
The Great Inquisition did nothing for the Church, it led to Protestantism, to separation between Church and State and to a work ethic celebrating reconciliation and collaboration that became the precursor of modern western society and all its wealth. Japan’s infliction of terrible horrors led not only to its inevitable defeat, but indirectly to its ultimate wealth. (America wrote its Constitution!) Germany’s idiotic pre-war dreams about domination led not only directly to its defeat but to wealth attributable as much to production as to enforced tolerance. (America wrote its Constitution!) Franco’s cruel Spain did everything wrong, creating a nation the exact opposite of what he … [Read more...] about Amar y Vivir
Is Greece poised to give the euro a boost?
For almost eight months, bureaucrats in Athens have been negotiating to convince investors to take a voluntary loss on their bonds, arguing this is the only way Greece can get its debt onto a sustainable footing. Until just the last day or so bondholders have refused, for the good reason that volunteering to take a loss is like opening your wallet to strangers in the street! Somehow or other though EU officials have managed the impossible, and investors stand poised to accept a 50.0% loss on their existing Greek bonds, while accepting an interest rate of just 3.75% on replacements. How then might this help the euro? Because if Greek officials and bondholders had not reached agreement, … [Read more...] about Is Greece poised to give the euro a boost?
Even Spanish TV feels the pain
As part of swingeing spending cuts being implemented at the behest of the European Central Bank, the Spanish government is to slash state broadcaster RTVE’s budget this year by €200 million to €1.2 billion. RTVE’s board says the cuts will have a “devastating impact” on its programming, predicting that its audience figures for its two channels La 1 and La 2, will drop by 8 percent. La 1 frequently tops audience ratings thanks to hugely popular programs such as Cuéntame como pasó — a long-running drama telling the story of a family from the Franco era up to the present day— or fantasy saga Águila roja, and post-Civil War soap opera Amar en tiempos revueltos. But the channel says that the … [Read more...] about Even Spanish TV feels the pain
Tax hikes to hit residents
From the most recent Agencia Tributaria bulletins we have been told that 85% of that €6.2 billion tax bill is to come from resident income tax. This affects the employed, self-employed, people with savings and retired people receiving income from outside of Spain such as pensions. It will be administered as a complimentary income tax in addition to the current 24% + income tax that residents already pay. As you might have guessed this tax is on a sliding scale according to how much your income is: Tax range Complimentary income tax €0 – €17.707 0.75% €17.707 – €33.007 2% €33.007 – €53.407 3% €53.407 – €120,000 4% The increases … [Read more...] about Tax hikes to hit residents
Valencia’s Camps is off the hook, but something still smells rotten
Francisco Camps has reason to celebrate. The Popular Party’s former president of the Valencia region has been absolved of charges of taking bribes in the form of designer suits and other garments from a businessman at the heart of the Gürtel corruption scandal. After a two-week trial, the jury voted, five votes to four, that the accusations could not be proved. But while Camps has expressed his joy at defeating the conspiracy he says was behind this case, his own party has been less jubilant. Virtually all the senior party figures who have responded to the verdict have advised Camps to take a break from politics, from Valencia mayor Rita Barberá to Alberto Fabra, his successor as regional … [Read more...] about Valencia’s Camps is off the hook, but something still smells rotten
Real Madrid’s Barça jinx leaves Mourinho facing wrath of Bernabéu
José Mourinho has finally arrived. A year and half after he touched down in the Spanish capital, the only Real Madrid manager to have his name chanted at the Santiago Bernabéu was booed by his own supporters during Sunday’s league win against Athletic Bilbao. Boos and whistles aimed at their own team are nothing new for supporters at the Bernabéu. Many a manager and player has befallen the same fate, but it was a first for Mourinho - who has up until now enjoyed huge support from the Madridista faithful - and the huge fallout from last week’s Copa del Rey quarter final against Barcelona rumbles on. It was all smiles in training only a week ago, but as his reign at Madrid has shown, … [Read more...] about Real Madrid’s Barça jinx leaves Mourinho facing wrath of Bernabéu
La Liga: Sevilla and Betis bury the hatchet as the Andalusia derby returns
Long before Real Madrid’s Pepe stamped on Lionel Messi’s hand and José Mourinho poked his finger into the eye of Barça’s Tito Vilanova, a bottle was thrown from the stands of the Ruiz de Lopera stadium which would knock Juande Ramos – then Sevilla manager – unconscious. It was to mark the height of the rivalry between Sevilla and Betis in recent times, when weeks of growing tension between the two sides finally came to a head at the latter’s stadium during a Copa del Rey clash. El derbi sevillano has always divided the Andalusian city but never more so than in 2007. Less than a month before the Ramos incident, a Liga clash also took an unsavoury turn, but this time not on the pitch or … [Read more...] about La Liga: Sevilla and Betis bury the hatchet as the Andalusia derby returns
Garzón affair reflects Spain’s tortured relationship with its past
It’s another big week for Spain’s best-known judge. Today, Baltasar Garzón goes on trial to face charges of having knowingly overstepped his authority by ordering an investigation into the crimes of the Franco regime during and after the 1936-39 Civil War. Earlier this month, Garzón faced another trial, for having allowed police to wiretap conversations between defendants in the Gürtel corruption case and their lawyers. The verdict from that case is expected any day. Garzón is easily the most controversial figure in Spain’s judiciary and opinions on him are bitterly divided. The High Court magistrate, now suspended from his duties, dared go where none of his colleagues would. The … [Read more...] about Garzón affair reflects Spain’s tortured relationship with its past