If I were
Artur Mas, the Cataluñan President, I'd be a tad concerned that
almost 4,000 companies have recently moved to other parts of Spain.
And that foreign investment fell 16% in 2104, against an increase of
9% in Spain as a whole. However, Sr. Mas seems blithely unconcerned about
these early warning signs of adverse reaction to a unilateral declaration of
independence. One observer (Don Quijones) comments astutely that
these figures are already an irrelevance, as reason is absent from
both sides in the "simmering war of words and gestures"
which is taking place betweer Barcelona and Madrid. "The issue
of Catalan independence" he writes "is no longer one based
on pragmatic realities; as tensions have festered, it has become an
almost purely emotionally driven issue. Instead of a reasoned
national debate, all that now exists is one almighty shouting match
between diametrically opposed nationalists who refuse to listen to
one another. And now that the wrecking ball is in motion, stopping it
will be a tough task, especially with neither side willing to give an
inch.
Spain's President Rajoy is more than happy to perpetuate this
dynamic: by adopting a belligerent line against Spain’s internal
enemy (Cataluña), he keeps his party’s core constituency of
fervent Spanish nationalists on board while making other parties that
favour dialogue appear weak. The twin blowbacks of rising regional
tensions and economic instability are a price worth paying to bolster
his embattled political party’s electoral prospects.
This is a
government that lied on just about every one of its election
manifestos to get into power (including its infamous pledge that it
would not give a cent to the banks before awarding them the biggest
bailout in Spanish history). Imagine what it is willing to do to hold
onto power? In the last few months alone it has passed a law that
effectively criminalizes most forms of political protest; it has
announced its budget for 2016 half a year before 2016 has even
begun, just so that it can entice gullible voters with the promise of
guaranteed tax cuts and spending rises, despite the fact that the IMF
has already said that Spain will probably have to tighten the
austerity screw after the elections; it has even created a new
electoral law just months before the general elections to make it
easier for the People’s Party to take control of hung parliaments
in future local elections.
Its latest move was to pass control of the
party’s apparatus in Cataluña to a xenophobic, anti-immigrant,
anti-separatist former mayor of a satellite city on the edge of
Barcelona. The party believes that his populist appeal has the best
chance of taking votes from the rising anti-independence party,
Ciutadans. In putting its faith in this man, Rajoy’s government
sends a clear message to the people of Cataluña: it is not
interested in healing any wounds or bridging any gaps. All it wants
is votes – and at any price. If that means throwing even more
gasoline on the fire of Catalonian independence, so be it."
Back in
Galicia, it's good to hear that our Xunta has launched "a
pioneering project for developing and using unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV) for civil purposes and in different areas of public services."
Drones, in other words.
New
reader Fer R has kindly provided this lovely example of how a
picaresque attitude to life can be helpful in Spain:- Related to our
argumentative tendencies and our obstinate individualism when we face
authority. Plus our exquisite ability to apologise for our conduct.
I remember I've always been able to get lowered a fine or not
be fined by a traffic warden only using the Verb[talking?]. The latest,
driving my scooter few yards in the wrong direction, I said to the
wardens who faced me: "I didn't know you were there but, if I
had known I had committed my offence despite all, because I was
plenty conscious of the illegality and, hence, I didn't act with
irresponsibility. Very on the contrary, I knew it was the time when
children go to school [there was a school on the corner], and I drove
extremely carefully because I know I was driving in the wrong
direction". And It worked.
My friend Eamon has kindly improved on his revised beach scene. It needs no comment from me:
Finally
. . . Thanks to a major leak - wonderful when you have 6 guests and 2 more about to arrive - I now know I have a new water meter. It's a snazzy, bright yellow thing that has only one defect when compared
with the old one - it's installed upside-down. Making it hard to read
the numbers. Intentional?
REQUESTS FOR HELP
Every year, my garden is taken over by a new type of weed. This year it's this bloody menace. Anyone got any idea what it's called?
This, of course, is a set of taps. Almost. The bit on the right is really from a hose connection, put in place while I try to find a replacement for the real thing. Without success. Everyone tells me they can't do anything without the brand name, which is nowhere to be seen. Anyone got any ideas? Roca??
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