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valle caidos

Spanish economy 24th October 2019

Franco’s tomb: justice and spectacle

Fernando G. Urbaneja | Throughout Thursday all the television stations will offer the spectacle of the journey of Franco´s coffin, buried 44 years ago underneath a marble grave stone weighing more than a thousand kilo in a family vault (although property of the state) to a public cemetery, el Pardo, 36km from the basilica of Cuelgamuros en El Escorial. For some this is an act of justice against the dictator, for others an unnecessary spectacle which oxygenates those few and irrelevant nostalgic for Francoism. Perhaps an opportunity for that peculiar sentiment of necrophilia which forms a peculiar part of human nature.

barcelona

Spanish economy 21st October 2019

“Catalonia burns” twenty days from the elections

Fernando G. Urbaneja | The electoral campaign from which will emerge the new Parliament and, perhaps, a government remains wrapped in this week´s “Catalunya in flames” with unforeseeable consequences, above all among the 20% of undecided voters.

separatists leaders

Spanish economy 14th October 2019

Spain’s Supreme Court condemns Catalan separatist leaders to 9-12 years

The Catalan process has been one of the major causes of friction in contemporary Spanish history. After two years of judicial process, Spain´s Supreme Court has considered proven that during Autumn of 2017 there were “undoubted episodes of violence” in Catalonia, but does not think these sufficient to condemn the separatist leaders for rebellion, as sought by the Public Prosecutor.

fruits consumer prices

Spanish economy 14th October 2019

Inflation in Spain falls to 0.1%, the lowest level in three years

Spain’s consumer price inflation hit the lowest in more than three years in September, according to data from the statistical office INE. The CPI edged up 0.1 percent year-on-year in September, following a 0.3 percent rise in August. This was the lowest rate since August 2016, when prices dropped 0.1 percent. The result, which coincides with some analysts’ forecast such as Funcas, is due to the fall in prices of energy products, especially gas and electricity.

spain tourism

Spanish economy 12th October 2019

The Spanish economy at a glance

Círculo de Empresarios | In August, Spain recorded the third largest economic slowdown among OECD countries, after Ireland and Slovenia. Between January and August, the arrival of international tourists to Spain increased by 1.5% year-on-year and tourism spending increased by 3.2% year-on-year.

catalan politicians prison

Spanish economy 8th October 2019

Keys of the Catalan separatist trial before the sentence

Nicolás García Rivas (The Conversation) | The separatist leaders currently in prison – or fleeing justice – are accused of rebellion, the most serious crime against the constitution. All because of the events which took place two years ago, following the adoption by the Catalan parliament of various laws of “disconnection” of Catalonia from Spain and its subsequent separation from our State.

sanchez elections

Spanish economy 7th October 2019

Political parties in Spain change their message before the elections

Fernando G. Urbaneja | A week ago, I pointed out as a hypothesis that “as it seems unlikely, as unassuming, another failure to form a government, new possibilities for pacts are opened that months ago were impossible because of the stubbornness of their leaders. In early 2020 these impossible pacts may be inevitable.” I made a mistake in judgement. No need to wait until 2020, new possibilities for pacts have appeared. The scenario before the next legislature in Spain is much more flexible than the previous one.

spain torito

Spanish economy 1st October 2019

Spanish GDP grows 0.4%, slowest in three years

The Spanish economy grew 0.4% in the second quarter, one tenth less than in the previous quarter and also a tenth less than advanced at the end of July. It is the lowest rate of quarterly growth in three years, according to the National Accounts published this Monday by the National Institute for Statistics (INE).