It sometimes seems that
Spain is being run primarily for the benefit of the pockets of
leading businessmen and politicians. Any coincidental public benefit
is exactly that - coincidental. But the corporate-political nexus is
running scared. A group of leading companies has announced a plan for
bringing the unemployment rate down from 24 to 11% within 4 years.
This, they say, will involve the creation of 2 million jobs. A tall
order, I would've thought. But let's hope they succeed.
As for politics
generally, here's the FT's overview of current developments: Spain’s
established political parties were on Monday scrambling to find an
answer to the meteoric rise of Podemos, a leftwing insurgent party
founded less than 10 months ago. According to the latest polls, the
group would emerge as the biggest party in the country if elections
were held now. Analysts caution that the latest spike in Podemos’s
poll rating may be a gut reaction to the recent corruption scandals
shaking Spain’s political establishment. But they also point out
that the group has shown far greater staying power than sceptics
predicted – and that it is likely to emerge as a credible rival to
the country’s two mainstream parties in next year’s general
election.
If
you want even more on this subject, click here for Reuters' view. Like the rest of us, they're sceptical about the government's promises of reform.
So, France has shown
once again that, in the EU, it's best to be big and bolshie. Its
repeated breaching of the key rule on budget deficits will be
overlooked for at least the next 2 years. Smaller members, though,
can't expect such largesse. So the moral hazard risk doesn't arise.
Except in respect of France.
The latest silly
incident around Gibraltar is that a Spanish plane changed its flight
path and caused an incoming BA flight to do likewise. Possibly an
accident and possibly not. But, with ISIS threats growing, there's a suggestion the next Spanish fishing boat making a macho
intrusion into Gib waters might find itself blown out of the water.
Now, that would be a test of EU friendships.
I was told years ago
that it was illegal to clean your car in the street. I've ignored
this until today, when I finally decided to use one of the 'boxes' that
flat-dwelling Spaniards resort to when necessary. There were 7
options at a euro each, including one for cleaning mosquitoes. Off
the windscreen, I assume. I used 3 of these but didn't notice any
difference between them. But I was glad the 4th one was just water.
The vacuum cleaner was a challenge, given the strength of the suck. I
almost lost a duster to it and then it virtually consumed the rubbish
bin liner when I was putting it back on he assembly.
A wonderful headline in
today's Diario de Pontevedra - The fining of a national
policeman by a local policeman sparks controversy. It seems the
former was on a drug-related mission and didn't take too kindly to
receiving a ticket for using his mobile phone when driving.
So, guess what resetear
means. It's the verb used, by Renfe at least, when you want to change
your password. Or to reset your computer, modem, etc. As
in: Resetear ('Reset' en inglés) significa colocar a un sistema
en sus condiciones iniciales de encendido.
En passant - I noted in
the press today that electricity prices have risen 18% since
February.
Finally . . . My
younger daughter gets married later this month. As it happens, I
heard some good advice from a long-wed couple today - Never fall
asleep during an argument. Wish I'd known that.
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