Having lost the recent general election, the right-of-centre PP party appears to be rapidly renewing itself by attrition. The latest grand legume to depart for more profitable pastures is Ángel Acebes. As with the last bigwig to go – Eduardo Zaplana – he was on the far right of the party. So the PP appears to be moving towards the centre, albeit perhaps a little belatedly. But will there be a place in its sunny uplands for the Iron Ladyship aspirant, Espe Aguirre, presidenta of the Madrid Community? Over at South of Watford, Graeme earnestly hopes not. Unless, I guess, her place in the team would herald another defeat for the PP.

According to the OECD, the advantages of having a university degree are fewer in Spain than elsewhere in the world. This, they say, accounts for the fact that the percentage of young Spaniards with a university degree is now constant at just over 30%, which is below the average of other advanced countries. Possibly it also accounts for the massive drop-out rate among undergraduates.

Galicia Facts

I had an interesting chat with a chap last night who said that, although he only spoke Gallego within the family, he resented the attempts by the Xunta to compel its use at the expense of Spanish. Specifically, he was concerned his daughter’s future was suffering as a result. If I understood him correctly, although she was someone with a passionate interest in English – to which I can testify – her chances of getting into the Vigo institute for translators were hampered by the fact the exam qualification mark was set at more than 90% for speakers of Spanish but at around 50% for speakers of Gallego. I’ve heard comments like this quite a lot in the past seven years, endorsing my view that – in a poor part of Spain – it’s short-sighted and counterproductive to address the challenge of promoting Gallego by making it a zero-sum game. Meaning that for every Gallego-speaking winner there has to be a Spanish-speaking loser. Parents are more concerned about the employment prospects of their offspring outside Galicia than they are about the advance of Gallego. And this was before the economic boom ended.

Please – if you’re a Galician Nationalist tempted to write to say this guy was talking through his backside about the exam marks needed, try to raise your gaze and to understand that this is not actually the point.

Returning to the issue of the Spanish economy. The Economist has reduced its 2008 forecast to 1%, considerably below the previous lowest figure. From where I’m standing, things seem to be galloping headlong to perdition. Possibly because on the other side of rampant greed lies headless panic. And both of these feed on themselves. It was reported yesterday that, so low was demand and consequent prices, catches of hake were being sent for flour production. Just the sort of report that nourishes the gloom and the said panic. No wonder consumer confidence is said to be in a nose-dive. Perception is once again reality - however falsely based. And, to make things worse, the Spanish are a nation of pessimistic conspiracy thinkers. Wonderful tinder. Thank god for the protection of a strong euro . . .