There’s an overwhelming consensus all across Spain that “we can’t go on like this”. Yet there’s an equally determined belief within the Rajoy government that we can, and in fact will, go on like this until it somehow gets better. Which means that someone – either the government with its faith that everything will come out well, or the entire population of the country, who believe that it won’t – has got it wrong. In this article I will take it as an assumption that the existing state of Spain will not be able to survive long enough to hold general elections again in 2015, and that therefore Rajoy’s Partido Popular government will be the last of the 1978-model Kingdom of Spain. How will … [Read more...] about The next Spain
Featured
Time for Spain to defy expectations as it battles corruption
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
La Liga: Depor find fortune on pitch despite financial woes
In a week when Deportivo La Coruña filed for bankruptcy protection, you would think a club which is €99 million in debt would not have much to smile about. But the Galicians, who currently sit in 19th place in the league table, seem to be slowly turning around their fortunes on the pitch with the help of their new manager. Drafted in during the winter break to replace José Luis Oltra, who was at least not given his marching orders until after he had enjoyed Christmas day, Domingos Paciência got off to the best possible start in his first match in charge when his new team beat high-flying visitors Málaga 1-0 thanks to a goal by Luis Pizzi for their first win in two months. The … [Read more...] about La Liga: Depor find fortune on pitch despite financial woes
Rodrigo Rato: exiting through the revolving door
Given Rodrigo Rato’s previous form and his current predicament, the news that Telefónica has appointed him to the advisory boards of its European and Latin American businesses raises new concerns about transparency and corporate governance in Spain. Rato - who has also served as head of the International Monetary Fund and as Spain's economy minister - will help "reinforce the global vision of Telefónica", the country's largest telecommunications company said after announcing the appointment on January 4. Readers will remember that it was Rato who oversaw the privatisation of Telefónica back in 1997. Rato’s hiring by Telefónica comes less than a month after he was summoned before a … [Read more...] about Rodrigo Rato: exiting through the revolving door
Life and trials of the rebel colonel
Seventy-four-year-old Colonel Amadeo Martínez Inglés certainly looks every bit the retired military officer as he marches in his uniform towards the little crowd outside the court. But he doesn’t sound like a typical army colonel. “The Third Republic will soon be born in Spain!” he declaims to the applause of his gathered supporters before entering the Audiencia Nacional, the high court that deals with terrorists, international gangsters and drugs traffickers, to face a 15-month prison sentence for his insults against the king. It’s April 2012 and he is accused of “Calumnies and Injuries Against the Crown” under Penal Code Article 490.3, a law which has already been quashed by the … [Read more...] about Life and trials of the rebel colonel
La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
As liga action resumed after a short break for Christmas, it seemed not much had changed in Spanish football. Barcelona continued their winning run and got their manager Tito Vilanova back following surgery after his cancer was found to have returned, José Mourinho was still stirring the pot at Real Madrid by continuing to leave Iker Casillas on the bench, Fernando Llorente still wants out of Athletic Bilbao and Lionel Messi once again stood in Cristiano Ronaldo’s way to take the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The Argentine was awarded the prize for the fourth consecutive time in Zurich on Monday night, beating teammate Andrés Iniesta and the Portuguese forward to the prestigious honour in a year when … [Read more...] about La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
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
La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho
This season, there have been very few quiet weekends in the Spanish capital and on Saturday evening, one decision by José Mourinho opened the floodgates. At around 7pm, with just over an hour to go to kick-off, the press began circulating the news. Club president Florentino Pérez was caught on camera, peering at the phone of a Canal+ presenter to read the extraordinary line-up and appearing bewildered. When the starting eleven was confirmed a few minutes later, it was clear why. Club captain and World Cup winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas was dropped to the bench and replaced in goal by Antonio Adán. The man dubbed ‘San Iker’ for the miracles he performs in front of goal for Los … [Read more...] about La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho
The argument for Spanish in Catalan schools
Last week offered a highlight in the debate over the law proposed by Education Minister José Ignacio Wert. Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, one of the leaders of the Catalan nationalist CiU bloc, revealed in a speech to the Spanish parliament that in Catalonia, “often the majority language in the schoolyards is not Catalan, it regrettably continues to be Spanish”. How much Spanish would not be cause for regret? Or should no Spanish-speaking children use their native language? In the schoolyard, i.e. during recess. During lessons they already cannot use it, except in Spanish language class. Certainly, there are shades of grey, but this is the overall policy that is being implemented in … [Read more...] about The argument for Spanish in Catalan schools
The ‘Spanishization’ crusade of José Ignacio Wert
If we take a quick look around Spain today we see a number of issues that are clearly in need of urgent action: the judicial system is facing the rebellion of judges who are sick of the political manipulation of justice; thousands of tax-dodgers enjoy the protection of the state while tax-haven whistleblower Hervé Falciani languishes in a Spanish prison; the police are exposed as criminally complicit in a number of cases of financial scandal and political dirty tricks, as well as grossly incompetent in investigating serious crimes; the wave of suicides caused by mortgage repossession continues unabated; and leading figures from all political parties and even the royal family are on trial as … [Read more...] about The ‘Spanishization’ crusade of José Ignacio Wert