Football might be King in Spain, but it’s a penniless king in reality. Spanish football clubs owe a staggering 700m euros to the Spanish Tax Office (Hacienda).
National
A satirical take on Spanish national news
Burning Banks
by Martin Myall •
People are just not happy with banks in Spain, and small wonder judging by their track record. Public resentment is becoming heated, so heated that some people have taking to setting fire to bank branches.
Councillors’ Hotline Antics
by Martin Myall •
Just when public spending cuts are biting the most, when members of the public are being asked to make sacrifices for the good of the national economy, we hear of three conservative councillors that have been running up bills of up to 500 euros a month on erotic phone calls, etc, on the official town-hall mobile phones.
Dubious Law Reform
by Martin Myall •
One of the most controversial points included in the coming reform of the law dealing with Citizen Safety appears a little sinister, some feel.
Basically it will become illegal to “capture, reproduce or process images, sounds or other data on member of the security forces (police) whilst carrying out their duty, when it could put at risk their lives or the operation that they are performing.”
In other words, and to put it bluntly, if during a street demonstration you record with you phone camera, for instance, a riot policeman beating the crap out of somebody on the floor, you would be committing a crime.
The Ministry for Justice said that this law would mainly be about controlling individuals, rather than the press, which is where the proposed bill becomes even more controversial because it means that TV channels and press photographers could also be liable to arrest.
The law reform started out as an idea to be able to fine demonstrators who took part in street protests with their faces covered and wearing hoods, but after the protests on the 25th September, when the social media called for people to “surround the Parliament,” ending in a controversial police charge, the Government decide to include other ‘facets.’
Why Politicians Are Losing Credibility
by Martin Myall •
Whilst the present Prime Minister was in opposition, he roundly criticised the then Leader of the Government, Sr. Zapatero, for using the official aircraft on party business; i.e., using an aircraft set aside for official state affairs and not such business as attending party conferences, for example. Yet barely ten months after taking up the post of Head of the Government, Mariano Rajoy has been doing precisely the same himself.
Prime Minister Rajoy used the governmental Flacon 900 to fly from Brussels, where he had been assisting a European Council meeting, to Vigo in Galicia to participate in two party rallies as part of the regional elections there. So what happened between his criticism of Zapatero in May 2009, where he described the PM as “arrogant” for using this aircraft for precisely the same thing, and his inappropriate use of it now?
Water and Electricity Should Go Up
by Martin Myall •
he Association of Engineers for Roads, Ports and Canals (ICCP) foresees a 25% increase in the price of domestic water and 30% in domestic electricity. This is not imminent, but ‘necessary,’ the association considers.
At present, the Spanish consumer pays between one and two euros per cubic metre of water, whereas in the rest of Europe the price is between three and seven euros, for which reason, their reports reads, “We must expect a minimum increase of 25%.”
The Association’s Spokesman considers that the ‘undercover subventions’ on the price of water should disappear and that instead there should be a social voucher the same as there is for electricity.
This report is mirrored by one from the OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios), which considers that the liberalization of the electricity utility sector and the disappearance of the Controlled Tariff for the majority of consumers will provoke a 30% rise in cost for domestic electricity supplies, bringing the average, per-annum, domestic, electricity bill up to 1,000 euros (up from 753 euros).
Three Die at Madrid Halloween Crush
by David Darby •
Three young women, aged between 18 and 25, have died and two more are in a critical condition after being crushed in a crowd at the Arena House in Madrid, during a Halloween party featuring some of Europe’s best known DJ’s. It appears the tragedy occurred after someone threw a flare into the crowd, causing panic and the ensuing crush. The venue is capable of holding up to 10,000 people, although it is unknown how many were in the premises at the time.
Controversial Age Limit
by Martin Myall •
Many residents might have lived here for decades but it is more than likely that they are unaware that minimum age for consensual sex in Spain is only 13, unlike the rest of Europe were it varies between 14 and 16 – Malta is the exception where it is 18.
Inexcusable Banking Behaviour
by Martin Myall •
You don’t have to be an expert on banking to know that Spanish banks have behaved irresponsibly, heartlessly and without scruples, and that just what the judges think.
No Surprise!
by Martin Myall •
Of a total of 185 countries, Spain comes in at 136 in a list ranking where it is most difficult to start a business.