SPAIN ACROSS THE YEARS. PART 2: FAULTLINES IN A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY »
Guernica, a powerful anti-war statement · Going through the battlegrounds of the Spanish Civil War where a historical walkabout could get booed · Casa Pepe, a sojourn into fascism and the Franco dictatorship · A new encounter with the Cordoba of the Three Cultures: "Relearning its exceptional period of harmony gave me hope, making my trip to Spain nothing less than epic."
POLITICAL SCIENCE 101: THE GHOSTLY WINNER OF SPAIN’S GENERAL ELECTION »
For weeks now, many in and out of Spain are touting the misconception that the candidate at the top of the list of the party that garnered the largest number of votes “won” the general election. The implication being that, by rights, the top-listed candidate of the “winning” party should be invested President of the Government of Spain. True or false?
HIS MAJESTY EL REY EMÉRITO WON’T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS »
It's been more than a year since Juan Carlos I left Spain (3 August 2020) following the financial scandal swirling around him. He lives in the United Arab Emirates, in a gilded cage, as some would say. He wants to return home. The fulfillment of that wish is in the hands of his son, King Felipe VI.
SPAIN IN A STATE OF ALARM »
The State of Alarm is a response to the alarming health situation (COVID-19 pandemic) caused by the coronavirus. It was announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following a 66% increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in just one day (13 March), from 3146 to 5232. Today, Spain is second only to Italy in terms of the number of COVID-19 victims.
SPAIN AND A WHOLE NEW BULL GAME: THE CLIMATE CORRIDA »
One might say that COP25 and Greta Thunberg drowned out the spirit and festivities of Constitution Day. But it didn’t. One can have one and the other too, and the Spaniards are delighted more than twice over because what transpired on Constitution Day was a happy synergy. Not only is Spain proud of hosting COP25; it’s facing the climate challenge with more vigor and conviction than ever before. Now that it’s hosting COP25, the country is shouldering the responsibilities of a center-stage actor. Hopefully for the long haul.
CATALONIA CRISIS: INES ARRIMADAS WINS THE VOTE BUT LOSES THE ELECTION »
The “winner” last 21 December is actually the center-right pro Spain-unity Ciutadans headed up in the region by Ines Arrimadas. She would now be gearing up for presidential investiture if not for the fact that there’s no way she could be elected over and above whoever the separatist deputies choose to vote for from their parliamentary seats. Not even if she’s able to form a miraculous coalition of ALL the non-secessionists who will still be minority to the secessionists’ absolute majority.
OFFICIALS JAILED FOR STEALING A TERRITORY »
"The government has begun to adopt the necessary measures in response to . . . a series of events that is inadmissible for most people of Catalonia, stealing part of the territory that belongs to all the people of Spain"
MILLION-EURO QUESTION: WHO ON EARTH WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE IN ONE COUNTRTY AND STILL THINK HE’S FROM ANOTHER? »
Answer: The ousted president of the autonomous region of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont. Also the leaders of the Catalan pro-independence political parties who have already announced they’re running for re-election after they have unilaterally and illegally proclaimed the independence of Catalonia on Friday, 27 October 2017
THE FRIGHTFUL ARTICLE 155 OF THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION »
"Art. 155 is so extreme it has never been intended for actual implementation. It was written into the Constitution as a kind of deterrence to would-be offenders so that they may not go ahead and bring on themselves the full constitutional wrath of the Spanish state"
WHAT IN THE WORLD?! »
Here's the appalling spectacle: a referendum that had all the makings of voting in a banana republic, and a declaration of independence that nobody knows for sure if it really was a declaration.
