Fiscal Insubordination

Up in Catalonia the city of Gerona has voted in favour of a motion whereby they will cease to pay their taxes to the Spanish Tax Office; instead they will be paid directly to the Catalan Tax Office. This is a protest against what is seen to be the unjust financial appropriation on the part of the Spanish authorities, something Catalonia has been complaining about for years.

The motion’s supporters claim that Catalonia’s economic future is in danger from the current regulations. Several other towns have joined Gerona in this move. The local PP party voted against the motion, as is natural, but that was not enough to stop it.

 

No Impact at All

Rajoy’s new PP government had committed themselves to a reduction in the deficit, to bring it down to 5.8 per cent (from its current 8 point God knows what per cent). This represented cuts of 30 billion euros. But then Brussels went on the attack and demanded it be brought down to 5.3 per cent, meaning a further 5 billion euros slashed. Both of these figures are way above the previously agreed-upon figure of 4.4 per cent, which means that Brussels will no doubt fine Spain in the near future.

Minister of the Economy, Luis de Guindos, when asked what this 5 billion extra would mean vis-à-vis the Spanish economy, replied, “No impact at all.” If I had been a reporter and present I would have asked him, “Then why wasn’t the 5.3 per cent figure chosen originally?” These dupes think we are the dupes.

Anyway, although Brussels seems to be letting Spain get away with this for now, seeing as Spain is in a recession, is heavily indebted, and has the highest unemployment rate in the glorious EU (ie, it is jodido), it is still watching all from on high: other countries, in lieu of Spain’s treatment, are looking towards Brussels for similar fiscal leniency. To cut a long story short: we are all doomed if we continue with the Europe only a few have actually chosen.

 

Gary Moore’s Heart Exploded

It has been revealed finally what took Gary Moore, famous guitarist, away: a massive heart attack suffered after he imbibed enough alcohol to put most people into a coma. He was 8 times over the legal limit for driving a vehicle.

A lethal amount of champagne and brandy was the culprit, which resulted in another infamous rock n’ roll death, this time in Estepona near Marbella; apparently, Amy Winehouse was found with only a little more in her. The musician was with his new lady – she found him – in a fancy hotel, which cost 4,200 euros a night.