Politics in Spain can become very heated

A CONVICTED fire-raiser was appointed Councillor for the Environment in the northern Spain village of Las Rozas de Valdearroyo.

Independent Mayor, Francisco Raul Calderon nominated Jose Carlos Lantaron for the position responsible for the environment, town planning and public works.

Lantaron will also assume the Deputy Mayor role in the town of fewer than 300 inhabitants. In 2006 the councillor was sentenced to six months in prison and forced to pay a €1,800 fine after admitting to starting four forest fires. There have been complaints about the appointment. 

Why? I thought a criminal conviction was qualification for political office.

Jose Merce

A SMALL part of Spain died with the passing of one of Spain’s best known flamenco guitarists. Jerez born Moraito Chico was just 55-years old when cancer and emphysema took him. Born into a gypsy family his art took him to share the world’s stage with the best of the nation’s flamenco singers.

Thanks to video and sound recordings such artistes’ gifts continue to enthral us long after their passing.

Sand storm!

The wrong kind of winds in Tarifa on Spain’s Atlantic coast has closed roads and isolated communities. 

One rogue sand dune buried the cars of over twenty local residents. The authorities are passing the buckas fed up residents demand action. 

They say they are trapped and unable to enter or leave the town or use the beach. It seems the beach came to them.

Spanish activists

Spanish activists for change in the democratic and banking systems are taking their indignation to Brussels, by foot via three nations. During their 2,500km march they will draw attention to the government’s cow-towing to speculators and disregarding the desperate needs of Spain’s backs to the wall population.

With little faith in their government’s ability to handle the crisis their aim is to converge with other like-minded groups to join a mass rally in the EU capital in October.

The Indignados have the muscle and have already inspired rallies exceeding 100,000 and 200,000 protestors.

As if war-torn Britain doesn’t have enough troubles. Striking Spanish municipal workers, fed up to the back teeth with not being paid their salaries, used barricades of burning tyres to block access to Gibraltar.

The incident lasted half an hour; too little to starve the enclave into submission.