On September 25, Mariano Rajoy took the podium at the UN General Assembly in New York, where Spain was hoping to win a rotating seat on the Security Council. The Spanish prime minister chose the moment to press for joint talks with the UK about the sovereignty of Gibraltar. He called on London to “reinitiate bilateral dialogue on the decolonisation of Gibraltar… We have now lost too many years.” Unsurprisingly, Spain failed to secure a seat on the Security Council, and London issued a waspish response, denying that decolonisation was even an appropriate concept: “The 2006 Gibraltar Constitution provides for a modern and mature relationship between Gibraltar and the UK. This description … [Read more...] about Gibraltar: Fish, football and frontiers
Archives for October 2012
US dollar triumphs as Eurozone bank recapitalisation agreement unravels
Welcome to the Pure FX account of changes in the euro exchange rate, covering the 5th to 12th of October 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to movements in the euro this week, to put you in the best position for when you exchange currencies. Latest exchange rate changes Pound to euro: 1.2439 to 1.2398 (-0.33%) Pound to US dollar: 1.6181 to 1.6038 (-0.884%) Euro to US dollar: 1.301 to 1.2936 (-0.569%) The US dollar has triumphed against the pound and euro this week, as a Eurozone agreement dating back to June to break the link between indebted banks and governments unravels. If you’re in the US and intend to emigrate to Spain or Portugal then, this means you can receive a … [Read more...] about US dollar triumphs as Eurozone bank recapitalisation agreement unravels
La Liga: Barça still in the driving seat after thrilling ‘Clásico’
“When Madrid play Barcelona, the world stops” said José Mourinho, who this week took part in his 14th Clásico in two years. The game had the potential to effectively kill off his side’s aspirations of retaining their league title given that a defeat would have put Barcelona 11 points clear, a surely unassailable lead. A poor start to the campaign – Mourinho’s worst ever as a manager – meant this game was almost already a title decider. Win this and Hay Liga, lose and it would be all over at this early stage of the season. As if that was not enough tension, with growing calls for Catalan independence, matchday seven at the Camp Nou was set to be a chance for 100,000 culés to express … [Read more...] about La Liga: Barça still in the driving seat after thrilling ‘Clásico’
Artur Mas: independence hero, or cynical politico clinging to power?
Does Artur Mas, the man who likes to be called the president of Catalonia, really think that this northeastern region of Spain is going to become an independent nation any time soon? Does anybody? Surely not. In which case, why is he pushing the self-rule agenda? In recent weeks, Mas has gone from being Mariano Rajoy’s partner in crime in supporting unprecedented austerity measures to rabble-rousing independence leader, suddenly pulling the rug from under a bemused and increasingly befuddled-looking prime minister. Mas met with Rajoy in September, pushing for a deal that would give Catalonia a bigger share of the tax revenue it generates for the central government. When Rajoy turned … [Read more...] about Artur Mas: independence hero, or cynical politico clinging to power?
A “posh hippie” and a bunker mentality in Spain
Those who organised the September 25 protest outside Congress, which saw bloody scenes and dozens of arrests, say they never intended to storm the parliament building and undermine Spain’s democracy. On Thursday, a High Court judge, Santiago Pedraz, accepted the word of the eight people he was investigating on these charges and shelved the case against them. But even though the eight “25-S” figureheads may not have been trying to rattle Spain’s sometimes creaky democratic edifice, unwittingly, that is exactly what they have done. Respect for the institutions of state and the boundary separating them are often flimsy and they looked almost non-existent when the governing Partido … [Read more...] about A “posh hippie” and a bunker mentality in Spain
Hope against hope for Spain bailout aids euro
Welcome to my latest account of changes in the euro exchange rate, covering the 28th September to 5th October 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to movements in the euro this week, to put you in the best position for when you exchange currencies. Latest changes in the exchange rate GBPEUR: 1.2577 to 1.2439 (-1.097%) GBPUSD: 1.6267 to 1.6181 (-0.529%) EURUSD: 1.2933 to 1.301 (+0.595%) Back up for the euro then! Following a fortnight in which the common currency fell against its pound and US dollar, its back up again this week, as the markets hope against hope that Spain requests a bailout. Curiously however, this hope flies even in the face of remarks from Spanish prime … [Read more...] about Hope against hope for Spain bailout aids euro
Catalonia goes Kosovo
One of the most memorable moments in world literature is when Captain Ahab nails a doubloon to the mast of the Pequod. Gold is a good argument, especially in desperate times. In Catalonia, the gold is the taxes, the nail is the term “fiscal deficit” (or “Spain steals from us”) and the mast’s new sails have “independence” written all over them. Money now being the driving force behind Catalan separatism does not take away one iota of its ethnic dimension. The referendum that is now envisaged, and to a lesser degree the upcoming regional elections, will split Catalonia between those who feel Catalan and those who feel Spanish. Both factors combined, the rise of nationalism in an economic … [Read more...] about Catalonia goes Kosovo
Spain’s Congress protests in pictures
All images: Felipe Fuente … [Read more...] about Spain’s Congress protests in pictures
La Liga: Basque derby highlights Bielsa’s lack of ideas
Heading into Saturday night’s Basque derby, Real Sociedad had failed to secure a victory over their regional neighbours for two and half years, with Athletic Bilbao having won both games last season. Not so long ago, Los Leones would have been clear favourites for the match having reached both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Europa League final last year. This season, however, has seen Marcelo Bielsa’s men get off to a poor start, winning just one of their opening five Liga matches and it was to get no better at the Anoeta this weekend. Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann had two dangerous efforts well saved by Gorka Iraizoz in the first-half but he finally broke the deadlock when his shot … [Read more...] about La Liga: Basque derby highlights Bielsa’s lack of ideas
San Sebastián Film Festival: Happy Hoffman and a hold-up
The 60th San Sebastián Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday evening, with triumphs for French film Dans La Maison, which took the Golden Shell, Blancanieves, The Dead Man and Being Happy, Foxfire and Fernando Trueba, for El artist y la modelo. Macarena Garcia and Katie Coseni shared the Silver Shell for Best Actress, for Blancanieves and Foxfire while the Zinemaldia jury awarded the Best Actor prize to José Sacristán for his performance in The Dead Man and Being Happy. A Special Jury Prize was also awarded to Blancanieves. A second 60th anniversary Donostia Prize (following on from Oliver Stone’s) was also awarded to Dustin Hoffmann, who presented his directorial debut The … [Read more...] about San Sebastián Film Festival: Happy Hoffman and a hold-up