It was, of course, a shock to hear about the €22 million that the former treasurer of the governing Partido Popular (PP), Luis Bárcenas, had hidden in a Swiss bank account; and equally shocking have been the allegations that for years the party paid its politicians under-the-table bonuses of up to €10,000 per month. But the depressing thing is, it’s not altogether surprising. This scandal broke in a month when 13 people linked to the PP are awaiting trial for their part in the Gürtel kickbacks case, and with the party’s Madrid premier Ignacio González facing questions over his luxury apartment in Marbella. Just days ago, Juan José Guëmes resigned his post in the company Unilabs España, … [Read more...] about Time for Spain to defy expectations as it battles corruption
Leaving the water running
History was made this week in Spain. For the first time that anyone can seem to remember, a political party admitted to corrupt practices. The party was Catalonia’s Unió, part of the region’s CiU governing coalition, and the corruption was the funnelling of €388,000 of EU funds meant for job training into the party’s coffers in the 1990s. Much of that cash was spent on furniture in Unió’s offices and on paying wages to party staff who, it transpires, didn’t actually do anything. So the admission of guilt was welcome at a time when corruption seems to have become such an endemic part of Spanish politics. But the reason for Unió’s admission is that it is part of a pact with the State … [Read more...] about Leaving the water running
2013: Another rough ride for Spain
Last year presented probably the toughest baptism of fire for any Spanish prime minister since the transition to democracy, but Mariano Rajoy knows that this year will be just as challenging. The big problems facing his government in the coming months are, for the most part, those that dominated 2012: the markets and a pending bailout; rising unemployment; lack of growth; social unrest; and Catalonia’s push for independence. The bailout presents perhaps the most vexing problem for Rajoy, because it demands decisiveness from a notoriously equivocal politician. Although Spain’s borrowing costs have dropped from their alarming levels last summer following Mario Draghi’s assurances … [Read more...] about 2013: Another rough ride for Spain
Rajoy’s difficult year
A year after he took office on December 21, 2011, many Spaniards would be forgiven for asking: who is Mariano Rajoy? His first 12 months in power have been so full of contradictions that a clear image of the Spanish prime minister is yet to emerge. His conservative Partido Popular (PP) has one of the biggest congressional majorities Spain has seen. And with it, his government has embarked on one of the boldest reform programs of the democratic era, with opponents frequently accusing it of authoritarianism. Yet still Rajoy is seen as hesitant and equivocal, a politician being led by events and EU orders, rather than leading his people. “Mariano Rajoy governs without his own voice, … [Read more...] about Rajoy’s difficult year
Choosing the Iberians of 2012
Picking a person of the year is difficult enough in times of economic calm and social stability, but in times of crisis it’s arguably harder. When the economy is struggling and leaders are held in low esteem, it’s hard to find individuals whose achievements make them stand out, for better or worse. So inevitably, the shortlist of Iberians of 2012 that managing editor Andrew Eatwell and I have drawn up has been dominated by the crisis that the peninsula – in particular the Spanish side of it – is suffering. There’s always a risk that calling those nominated the “people of the year” glorifies them, or at least suggests they are being cast in a positive light. But our nominees are not … [Read more...] about Choosing the Iberians of 2012
Catalonia’s gambler Mas fails with his biggest bet yet
"Leaders are those who interpret the sense of every historic moment, those who find their path by listening attentively to the heartbeat of society.” Artur Mas’s words on taking power as Catalonia’s new regional premier in 2010 have clearly informed his last three months in office, a period during which Catalonia's relationship with Madrid has been the predominant political issue. His push for greater economic autonomy for Catalans, followed by the more ambitious goal of independence do, he believes, reflect the region’s “heartbeat”. But on Sunday, as results came in from the region’s election, which he called early in the biggest gamble of his career, it became clear that much of … [Read more...] about Catalonia’s gambler Mas fails with his biggest bet yet
Catalan election offers Mas hope of independence mandate
Sunday’s election in Catalonia is probably the most significant in the region since Spain’s transition to democracy in the late 1970s, due to the way the issue of independence has utterly dominated the campaign. Although the central government’s Partido Popular (PP) will not win, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will follow the election extremely closely. The upsurge in pro-independence sentiment in Catalonia has suddenly emerged as Rajoy’s most urgent political challenge and he has struggled to deal with it effectively. Guy Hedgecoe examines the Catalan independence drive (Audio): Catalan Independence (Audio) A resounding win for the incumbent, Artur Mas of the CiU mainstream … [Read more...] about Catalan election offers Mas hope of independence mandate
La Liga: prodigal Reyes finds form for derby demolition
He has exasperated fans and coaches wherever he has played. Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Benfica and then Sevilla again. He started out as the 16-year-old boy wonder with the world at his feet and while he has reached plenty of heights during his career, in recent years the feeling is that his is a talent unfulfilled. José Antonio Reyes, now 29, has been one of Spanish football’s greatest enigmas of the last decade and some would say one of its biggest disappointments. But on Sunday night, the Sevilla winger reminded la liga why he was once talked about with such awe. It didn’t take him long to make his mark on the Andalusian derby - 14 seconds, in fact. Betis … [Read more...] about La Liga: prodigal Reyes finds form for derby demolition
Spain’s gay marriage ruling through the eyes of a seasoned campaigner
Several conclusions could be drawn from the recent ruling by Spain’s Constitutional Court to reject a seven-year-old appeal against the country’s same-sex marriage law of 2005. Perhaps the most obvious is that the Spanish justice system is slow. For many Spaniards, especially the more than 20,000 gay couples who have got married under the legislation, this was an eagerly awaited ruling. Some even feared they would be “de-married” if the appeal, lodged by the Partido Popular (PP), was upheld. Given the importance of this case, a seven-year delay was both baffling and inexcusable. But also, this ruling reflected how Spain has changed over the last decade. For most Spaniards, rolling back … [Read more...] about Spain’s gay marriage ruling through the eyes of a seasoned campaigner
A necessary crisis for Spain’s Socialists
As the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) digests its disastrous performance in recent Galician and Basque elections, struggles to find a coherent and convincing response to the upsurge in Catalan nationalist sentiment, and its powerful Andalusian faction mulls overthrowing national leader Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, it’s hard not to look back to February of this year. The Socialists had confirmed Rubalcaba’s appointment as party leader in the wake of the 2011 general election disaster. His only serious challenger, Carme Chacón, watched as he made his acceptance speech and she wept. According to many, they were tears of anger and disappointment at how the party old guard had blocked … [Read more...] about A necessary crisis for Spain’s Socialists