Look on the bright side

AT the time of writing, no-one knows who will represent Spain at the Rio Olympics. No member of the royal family has been designated and acting president Mariano Rajoy is staying put. This is not pique because the Games should, in all fairness, have gone to Spain, but fallout from the political parties’ inability to get their act together and form a government.  

Who in their right mind would want to go to Rio right now?  The Zika virus, a self-proclaimed Islamist terrorist threat and the ever-present threat of violence are hardly inviting.  Sighs of relief all round at possessing cast-iron reasons for not going.

Reverse turn

HAD Cataluña been allowed a referendum a couple of years ago the ‘remain’ vote would have obtained a narrow victory. No longer, the latest opinion poll showed that the balance has tipped in favour of independence.

If Prohibition turned America into a nation of drinkers in the early 20th century, vetoing a Catalan referendum is creating a nation of separatists.

Get on with it

THE Spanish complained in the past that “all politicians are the same” and they haven’t changed their minds in the present. They are running out of patience as they are forced to endure dickering and bickering between people who are paid to represent them but can’t manage to form a government.

The argument heard from intransigent MP’s – usually socialist – that they have a responsibility to their voters won’t wash.  Few voters care a jot about party politics:  they just want a government, any government, and they want it now.

Pots and kettles

SPAIN must make another €10 billion in cuts, Brussels says, but heaven knows what part of the welfare state will be slashed to provide them.

Acting president Mariano Rajoy campaigned twice on the strength of returning the economy to the straight and narrow while running up a huge debit balance.

Four years on he and his ministers continue to bleat about the situation they inherited from the socialists but studiously ignore the situation they have created themselves.