Dick Dasterdly

They didn't wait for match day to kick off in Madrid last night.

Scenes of shocking violence on the Spanish TV News Channels today.

http://www.thelocal.es/20140323/clas...nity-to-madrid

Meant to be a march for dignity and somewhat ironically almost coinciding with the death of the guy who helped return Spain to Democracy, especially in view of the fact that so many Spaniards see the present govt as moving back towards Francoism.

Unacceptable, but to a certain extent understandable in view of the lack of serious progress to end the crisis and give desperate people some hope for the future.

"But spending cuts of €150 billion have done nothing to dent Spain's record levels of unemployment and prolonged recession, and triggered two general strikes in 2012 that brought millions to the streets.

Many are angry at paying the price for what they see as the corrupt collusion of Spanish lawmakers and regional banks that helped trigger the crisis."

"Let them give us the money stolen by politicians and bankers," said protester Trini Reina, 48, from Seville. "I haven't paid my mortgage for seven months. The system is bankrupt and we are paying dearly for it."

Porth

Dick we were only there for six months last year and after let us say a long time in France. You could indeed be seduced by the weather the life style et al in Spain.

We are on the point of coming back (if they will accept us) but in our minds there are continuing difficulties. But in fairness that is said of France (Hollande) and let us see the results of the elections today and indeed the UK.

So I suppose suck it and see?

As an aside we own property in the UK and the tenants paid a bond which is held separately in an account and no one can get their hands on it until the agreement as to the condition of the house. In Spain (and here only our experience) you just write off two months bond for your are never likely to get it back and compensate by not paying the last two months rent. We wrote off two months rent - it is history.

However everywhere has its problems?

But sat at a restaurant comme Piri Piri in the Port area of Javea in the summer months does take some beating.

agoreira

They do indeed, but some are a lot more serious than others. The EU unemployment rate is around 10% (?), Germany, UK etc much lower than that, but Spain remains stubbornly around 26% with no signs of dropping. That makes Spain's rate nearly four times that of UK, (although some would have us believe that the UK fiddles the figures whilst Spain doesn't! ) so it's no wonder the Spanish are feeling militant, and no wonder why the numbers leaving Spain to find work went up again last year.

Dick Dasterdly

It surely does, but try telling that to the 26% Spanish out of a job, or the many now being used for what is virtually slave labour, or those thrown out of the homes onto the streets if they haven't already committed suicide that is, or the many thousands who have been virtually forced to leave their home country to try and earn a crust, or those I see on an almost daily basis scavenging in rubbish bins for food.

It was supposed to be a protest march for dignity and very sad it turned into something really nasty, but as I said understandable to an extent with a cold hearted b........ like Rajoy running the show, though to be fair he is little more than Merkels puppet these days.

HBG

I've watched most Spanish demonstrations on TV although I did see some minor ones live in the Alicante province. What has amazed me in the past has been the reluctance of demonstrators to confront one of the main problems causing recent Spanish economic woes, corruption at mind-blowing levels. The placards at this demonstration finally seemed to address the problem, but it's taken long enough.

Until very recently, corruption at every level in Spanish society seemed to have been accepted as a way of life. Mayors have been convicted of corruption and were voted back in by the population before coming out of prison. To get anything done in business or even to get a bigger garden shed you had to pay someone, I remember one mayor of Marbella saying that she wouldn't even look at any papers until she had been paid.

The governing body at the centre of the EU is again awash with money and power and can reduce the high Mediterranean unemployment at a stroke, but they need to be convinced that EU money is not going into politicians pockets as it has done in the past, nor will it be used to build any more ghost airports and motorways to nowhere.

They won't want to give anything to a bent politician like Rajoy.

steviedeluxe

Poor Aggy. Will the numbers of people leaving ever reach the millions that left the UK to find better opportunities abroad? Good for 1 country, bad for the other, as per your constant baiting?

http://www.theguardian.com/global-de...ills-shortages

Still the fact that exports are doing so well, tourist numbers are up, and employment is now being created in the Spanish economy are all things to applaud now?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...es-repeat.html

bobd22

In fairness I would think a very large majority of expats moving full time to the likes of Spain Cyprus in the past would have been to retire. Spanish are not moving out to retire or even to broaden their work experience, they are doing because they need work to live. There is a vast difference in retired people retiring to the sun and young people so demoralised they have to leave their families and country of birth in order to survive. Yes I am aware in the past some did move to Spain and Cyprus to work but that is mainly through choice not need.

amideislas

Unlike say, Spain, I'd be more inclined to suspect those leaving the UK tend to be prosperous and seek more value from their wealth, which could include a life in the sun, or even tax relief...

steviedeluxe

The article actually states that most moving abroad from the UK are of working age, and the main destinations are Australia, Canada and the US.
So why is the agenda being spread that it's "bad" for Spanish to work abroad, yet fine for the Brits to seek better opportunities abroad (and in far greater numbers)?

jackytoo

Of course, but you can't expect the Minister for Propoganda to point out the obvious

cricketman

Looking around the battered old UK cars on the CDS, I would say the oppposite was true

British people want to find somewhere sunny and cheap to live where they think they dont have to work much

jackytoo

I saw a lot of banners against corruption. I think it will take at least another generation to improve. Most of the people charged with corruption have got off. Just last week the couple who owned AIFOS the large developers were aquitted of fraud after not returning over a million euros of deposits. The Judge said there was no intention to defraud even though they took deposits for places they didn't have planning permission!

http://www.diariosur.es/v/20140319/m...-20140319.html

Porth

thank goodness for a common law legal system. It is obvious that the Judge does not recognise mens rea. Please forgive me but is there trial by Jury in Spain or do the Judges themselves 'Do the business?'

With so many alleged allegations flying around are there any houses or apartments changing hands or is there a sense of fear as to whether property is legal or not? then the argument is go to see a good Abogado.

How does one know if he is 'straight'

Due to the recession we are witnessing more Solicitors in the UK falling foul of the system and then being 'struck' off. However the Solicitors RA are there to handle compensation.

Is there such a body in Spain?

jackytoo

There are the Colegios de Abogados but ineffective. They are mainly professional associations set up to protect their members.

Porth

And therefore no members of the public? Although it is argued in the UK that the Bar Council looks after its own.

Beware I suppose is the theme whilst buying a property in Spain?