Pontevedra Pensées: 22.10.16

SPANISH LIFE/CULTURE

The Population: Thanks to a low fertility rate, Spain will see this fall by 5.3m or 11% over the next 50 years. Well, maybe. There's a lot of people living in South America who'd like to move here when times are good.

Utility Companies: These are infamous here for their little tricks that disadvantage/rob their customers. In the Spanish phrase, they form part of the community of 'thieves in white gloves'. So, I wasn't too surprised to read yesterday that Gas Natural Fenosa - a Catalan company that used to be Galician - is threatening to evict a family for non-payment of a debt of just one cent. Like the banks, Spanish utility companies are not known for dealing gently with those who get behind with their payments.

SPANISH POLITICS

The PSOE Party: This weekend they'll take a decision on whether or not they'll continue to make it impossible for the PP Party under Sr Rajoy to form the next government. Roll on Monday!

THE EU

Germany: Just a couple of days after making my contentious claim that Germany has the hegemony over Europe which the EU was set up to prevent, I read this Letter from Berlin in Private Eye's latest issue. As the writer says: Who needs weapons when we can obtain hegemony with money?:-

So, don't just take my word for it.

Brexit: In keeping with their reputation as being the most difficult Europeans to do business with, the French have warned they'll ensure the negotiations will be very tough. To prove this, the lead negotiator has demanded they're in his native language of French. Mrs May is reported to have told him to take a hike. However you say that in Francais.

GALICIAN STUFF

The Camino de Santiago:

• Stats: I later realised that the number of 252,000 I cited yesterday must be for 'pilgrims' coming into Galicia on all routes, not just on the Portuguese Way that wends through Pontevedra. Most of them on the French Way, of course.
• The Number of Caminos: I like to surprise visitors by revealing there are at least 10 ways to walk to Santiago through Galicia. Researching the Camino del Levante this week, I saw a list of 21. As I've said, it's all about money. So it's hardly surprising that new ones emerge almost annually. And to think it's all based on a ridiculous myth about an unmanned boat made of stone 'returning' the body of St James to a place there's no record he ever visited during his life. Which/who later appeared on a battlefield to help the Christians who were struggling against the invading Moors.
• Skulduggery: I read a couple of warnings this week that the yellow arrows be treated with caution at times. Would you believe there are people out there who try to attract folk to bars, restaurants and lodgings which aren't actually on the Camino? And then there are those who aren't too happy because they've lost money after the route's been altered. For one reason or another.

The Galician Population: As with Spain as a whole, this is expected to fall by 230,000 by the year 2031. Maybe.

Sudden Deaths: Another 3 in the last week or so. Two from overturning tractors and the third from yet another kamikaze driver going the wrong way down an autovia. This time a young man of only 22, who smashed into a truck at midday. Possibly intentionally.

FINALLY

A quote from the always funny and provocative Caitlin Moran: There is something about social media that is killing the idea of democracy. It acts as an opinion megaphone for a confident, extremist minority, railroads over facts, and invalidates compromise.

THE CORRUPTION CAVALCADE

Another 3 cases today, though the third probably doesn't rank as corruption. More like civil disobedience. But I'm holding back 2 real cases for tomorrow.

The case	The Accused	Position	Allegation	Status
Sagunto el Mayor	The mayor and 11 councillors	Local government execs.	Bribery and corruption in respect of tenders and contracts	Under investigation
A Pobra de Caramiñal		The mayor	Driving for 12m+ without insurance	Fined
The Catalan Politician	Carme Forcadell	Ex President of the Catalan parliament	“Disobed-ience and and perversion of justice. Not money related.	Details here
ERE	2 retired politicians	Ex Presidents of Andalucia	Scamming hundreds of millions of euros from the EU	Trial proceeding
The Corrupt Senator	Rita Bárbara	Ex mayor of Valcencia	Money laundering	Under investigation
The Stamps Scam		Promotor of the investment	Massive fraud on the public	Investigation began in 2006 and things have finally reached the courts. The Public Prosecutor is seeking a 27 year gaol sentence.
Corporate		The Board	Passing off a Chinese phone as its own.	See here.
Cheating banker		Director	Stole €1.9m from 14 clients	After 5 years(sic) of investigation, the trial has now begun
The Royal Family		Sister of the king	Corrupt business practices	Trial proceeding. With the usual attempts at delays
Gürtel/Correa		Senior position holders	Illegal party financing	Trial just begun after many years of investigation.
Bankía/Black Cards		Senior position holders	Use of 'black credit cards' to avoid taxation on income of more that €12m.	Trial just started
Bog standard case		The mayor of Vilareño de Conso, Galicia.	Falsification of docs and corrupt practices.	Trial just started
Bog standard case		The ex-mayor of Ribadumia, Galicia	Money laundering and drug smuggling	Under investigation
Bog standard case		Ex-president of the Balearics parliament	€4m bribes for changing property  classifications	Awaiting sentence. 4 years demanded.