The creation of a cabinet dominated by women has certainly been a PR success for President Zapatero around the world. Back home, it may even have been, as some say, a ‘triumph of symbolism’. But – as a leader in El País pointed out last week – all that really matters is whether it is effective - during difficult times. So I guess the limelight will fall mainly on the Minister responsible for the economy – Sr. Solbes – and not on any of his [rather more attractive] colleagues.

Personally, I can’t help wondering whether this woman-powered cabinet will have the courage to do something serious about the scandal of prostitution that blights Spain’s image. But I fancy not.

One thing’s for sure, though; Spain does not have the problem implied in this comment about the other southern European country to recently hold an election - Italy at last has a reasonably coherent bipolar framework, a strong centre-right government that is balanced, for the first time ever, by a single and avowedly modernising centre-left Democratic Party. It may well be true that the cabinet reflects the balancing act any Spanish President faces in managing a mix of central and regional/nationalist expectations but at least the task seems doable. And the whole affair has been useful in clarifying how much power is devolved to the regional governments in Spain. And, thus, in highlighting which ministries are important and which aren’t. Only with this understanding can one separate the form from the substance. But I leave Graeme at South of Watford to flesh out these bones as I’ve reached the limits of my knowledge. Or quite possibly surpassed them.

A young reader of the Voz de Galicia yesterday quoted these statistics in her letter to the editor:-
- 66% of young people in Spain earn less than €1000 euros a month.
- 45% of them are on temporary contracts.
- More than 33% of those with higher educational qualifications are working in jobs which don’t require these.
So, it’s been a funny old economic boom over the last ten years or so. And it’s hard to see how these statistics are going to improve over the difficult two or three years ahead. Meanwhile, I wonder who the real winners have been. Apart, that is, from all the crooks accused of pocketing squillions of euros from one fraud or another. Not to mention those who’ve got away with it.

In another of those interesting – but possibly hopelessly wrong – surveys of Spanish life, 28% [‘27.6’!] of the population is said to suffer anxiety and stress because of the noise they’re subjected to. There are sixteen causes listed, of which the top three are:- traffic, motorbikes and neighbours. No reward for guessing where my opinion lies. But there is a prize for anyone who can explain how motorbike exhausts can remain so relevant when the noise so many of them make has been illegal for years. I mean, it’s not as if the police were busy stamping out other road offences. Except alleged speeding, in my case.

Galicia Facts

Our region turns out to be near the bottom when it comes to noise pollution. Only 7% of Galicians are said to suffer anxiety and stress. Maybe this is because most of them live in the hills and incessantly barking bloody dogs don’t figure on the list of sixteen factors.

According to the Voz de Galicia, only 8% of judicial verdicts here are given in Gallego. Which is a bit of a surprise.

Finally, some good news. From 21 June to 1 November, Iberia’s low cost operator Clickair will be flying from Vigo to Heathrow three times a week. And back! The cost will be €35, all up. Perhaps.