ZP finally flogs his Vera beach home (lost 160k on the deal, poor sod)

Soon to be ex-president of Spain, Zapatero, has finally flogged his Vera beach house after dropping the price by 38%. He purchased the home in 2007 for a reputed 440,000€, in the name of his wife. The sale price of the home, according to real estate portal idealista.com, was 280,000€ – meaning ZP’s “investment” cost him 160,000€. It seems the ZP family never stayed there, according to some reports, because of the size of the Continue reading ZP finally flogs his Vera beach home (lost 160k on the deal, poor sod)

So just wait awaits our health service?

It’s the elephant in the room, actually. With elections just around the corner, the PSOE hasn’t dared touch Spains health care – but everyone knows that whoever wins, come January, the Spanish health service is going to take a large hit. And it’s already happening, in quiet little corners of Spain, as the federal regions that politically can start to save cash where-ever they can. Griñán himself admitted this today, in an interview with Ideal, Continue reading So just wait awaits our health service?

Spanish MP’s calculate the benefit of not being re-elected (let’s call it 67K a head, shall we?)

A little noted communique has been published confirming the “finiquitos”, or severance pay, that Spanish members of Congress and the Senate who loose their seats in the November elections can look forwards to. The finiquito, which is based off their average monthly salary of 2813€ a month (plus 1823€ “expenses” for any MP who is based outside of Madrid). They will get 8,200€ in a lump sum to compensate for loss of earning during the Continue reading Spanish MP’s calculate the benefit of not being re-elected (let’s call it 67K a head, shall we?)

Fury as political bosses attempt to take over RTVE’s news department

Much backtracking this evening from the political controllers of RTVE -Spain’s national broadcaster- after it was discovered they had voted to give themselves executive access over the news software used by the corporation to generate its newsfeeds. In essence, this meant that the politicians would have had editorial control over all of RTVE’s news, allowing them to censure what they pleased and promote what they felt important. RTVE has a strange committee of non-executive directors Continue reading Fury as political bosses attempt to take over RTVE’s news department

ZP bows out amongst jeers

ZP has presided over his last session of Congress as Prime Minister of Spain. He finished his last session after 8 years as PM with a rather rambling speech saying he hoped that the next government would continue with his legacy and that his financial reforms would bring Spain back to prosperity. Meanwhile, opponent Mariano Rajoy showed no mercy, accusing ZP of leaving a poisoned legacy behind him, and accusing him of leading Spain to Continue reading ZP bows out amongst jeers