Court enforces higher electricity prices
The Supreme Court has supported demands by the electricity companies against the freezing of their prices which has been in effect since October last year, and has now given the green light for higher charges: consumers may expect substantial increases very soon.
6 years for Ex-President Matas
Jaume Matas, former president of the Balearic Islands, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by the Palma de Mallorca Provincial Court. He was convicted of a long list of crimes, including fraud, falsification of public documents and misappropriation of public funds. The crimes committed by the leading PP politician were in connection with the Palma Arena sport centre.
Lower rates on public bonds
The treasury has sold 5,044 million euros worth of public bonds over 12 and 18 months. The interest was the lowest rate since April 2010. Many of the buyers were banks, using part of the 529,000 million euros granted them by the European Central Bank at 1% interest rate.
Spanish debts spiralling
According to the Bank of Spain, debts of Central government, the regions and the town halls now amount to 734,900 million euros. The sum does not include the debts of the public companies, owned by the governments which amount to 55,865 million. The social security system has debts of 335,000 million, which equates to 42,600 euros on the shoulders of each employee.
Bad loans rise to 8%
Again, according to Bank of Spain, outstanding bad loans to the banks rose to 8% in January, the highest level since November 1994, and now amount to 140,027 million euros.
Football clubs owes 750 million in taxes
The government has revealed that football clubs have tax debts of 750 million euros, in addition to their unpaid contributions to the social security fund. The socialist opposition has demanded limits on the value of transfer payments and salaries of football stars.
Immigrants out of Social Security
The number of foreign immigrants, working and contributing to the social security system, is falling. In February 8,637 left the system, bringing the total to 1,681,548. Last year 88,225 foreigners stopped contributing, a reduction of almost 5%.
Madrid and Barcelona regions have the most immigrant workers, 362,372 and 369,421, respectively; Andalusia has 213,144 and Valencia 183,263.
Crisis reaching heaven
The economic crisis and lack of job opportunities for young people is inflating the number of applicants for the priesthood. There are 277 new seminarists this year, 51 more than last. This ends a long period of falling interest in becoming a priest which has continued since the end of the sixties.
24 public companies closed
The government has decided to close 24 Government owned public companies – 17% of the total – which have more directors than personnel. The savings may not be so great, but it is hoped the cuts will serve as an example to regional governments and town halls.
Canaries’ president opposes oil prospecting
The President of the Canaries Regional Government, Paulino Rivero, has announced his opposition to the prospecting for oil in the waters surrounding the Canaries Islands, which were approved by the national government. He said the archipelago cannot risk its future.
Norwegian funds moving out of Spanish bonds
The mighty Norwegian oil fund is moving out of Spanish public bonds. At the end of 2010, their investments in such bonds amounted to 3,346 million euros, but one year later it was down to 2.371 million.
The fund which totals 436.983 million euros, has instead been investing in shares of selected Spanish companies.
Cava beats Champagne
- French Champagne exports amounted to 141.32 million bottles.
Interestingly, Cava has increased it’s sale in France, selling 4.2 million bottles last year, an increase of 8.3%.
Netherlands, Belgium and Austria criticise decision to revise Spanish deficit targets
Following the revision of Spain’s deficit targets, Dutch Labour MPs have threatened to block ratification of the new European ‘fiscal treaty’ on budgetary discipline if it means the Netherlands will need to bring its deficit down to 3% of GDP by 2013, as the Dutch government is planning to do. However, Dutch daily De Telegraaf notes that leading members of the party remain split on the issue.
140 billion Euros in regional debts
The Bank of Spain has revealed that the Valencia Community is in debt to the tune of almost twenty-one billion euros, with only Catalunya, whose debt stands at 41,778 billion euros, owing more. The Bank also revealed that last year the autonomous regions debts totalled 140 billion euros, the highest amount ever -- 13% of the GDP. The data reveals these debts have continued to rise since 1995.
Premature
By Per Svensson
It sounds like a story by Kafka, but is reality:
The British couple Helen and Len Prior invested their lifetime savings building a house, in the municipality of Vera, Province of Almeria, Region Andalusia, in sunny Spain. After furnishing and moving in they were told that the building license the constructor had obtained from the town hall had never been recognised by the Junta de Andalusia (the regional government) and should never have been issued.
The Priors protested, but to no avail: One day in 2008 a town hall demolition crew appeared on their door step, giving them just time to move the furniture into the garage, before ripping their home apart. The Priors have since been living in the garage, fighting and waiting for justice.
They were, as we all are, recommended to take the Administration’s brutal act to the courts. Last week the Almeria Administrative Court passed the sentence that the town hall had no responsibility for the house which was torn down, and said that the Prior’s claim for compensation was ‘premature’ because of an ongoing appeal in the Regional Supreme Court.
The town hall is elated, and is now considering demanding that the Priors repay the money for the house rental they paid them since demolishing their home.
Justice delayed….
Helen and Len are now in the fourth year of their personal nightmare. How many more years will pass before a human solution is found?
We remember well the saying that ’Justice delayed is justice denied.’
The Priors should not have had to go to court at all, in this case of blatant mal-administration. The regional government should have reckognized the injustice and paid compensation at once.
Spain’s reputation abroad as a safe country in which to invest is already in tatters. The Prior case illustrates the disorganisation between the various levels of the Administration, the lack of respect for private homes and foreign property buyers, and the haphazardness of the legal system.
Buying a home in Spain? It may be premature to do so, until Spain has pulled up their socks, starting by giving a proper answer to the European Parliament Auken report, which is supported by an overwhelming majority but which so far has been ignored by the Spanish politicians. We refer to the letter to the new president of the European Parliament by the association Abusos urbanisticos NO, included in this report.
Politicians in court
On several occasions we have suggested that Spain should take the politicians responsible for the deplorable situation of the country, to court. Last week leading newspaper ‘El Mundo’ asked their readers if they agreed there should be an amendment of the law to permit penal sanctions to be brought against bad public leaders. A resounding 99% said yes.
Andalusia parliamentary elections will be held on the 25th of this month. PSOE, the party which has ruled the region as their private property, will, according to the latest polls, suffer a humiliating defeat and PP will gain an absolute majority, permitting their leader Javier Arenas to clean out the foul smelling stables of the southern-most region.
Si (
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