The real reasons of the change of government in La Vila

Now, a year after the vote of no confidence against the socialist mayor Gaspar Lloret undertaken by the town councillors of the right ring Popular Party and another councillor of the Independent Party, who deceived and acted as a traitor against his party and the government of the town, it has become completely clear what they pursued.
.
As Gaspar Lloret, now spokesman of the socialists, claimed yesterday on the local radio and to the press the new rulers led by the turncoat politician Francisco Pérez Melero were not moved by the inefficiency of the four-party qualition which was governing or the economy. In any case, they were worried by their own economy -that that affects their own pockets and accounts- because.

• First, all that is being done in la Vila now was started by the socialist mayor -he himself- or by the Spanish president, the also socialist Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
• Second, many people directedly connected with the PP councilors and the turncoat have been given a job in the Town Hall, among which we find, for example, the current mayor's wife, the turncoats's wife, a previous counsillor directly connected with the previous PP mayor (the false doctor, Chemi) directing the mayor's office, Marcos Santapau, and a close friend of the turnout's, Bartolomé León, as number 1 in Urbanism (when he just worked selling bricks before the motion), to give just a few examples.

Limited tax rises

Monday, 07 September 2009

Consumer price drop slows but GDP hits new record low

Zapatero says planned tax rises will be ‘limited in time and scope'

By Dave Jamieson

PM Zapatero says capital gains taxes will increase, not income taxes (Photo: EFE archive)

The fall in consumer prices in Spain slowed in August, according to encouraging data last Friday from the National Statistics Institute (INE). However, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter fell by more than was expected.

Consumer prices have been falling since March, which was the first month a year-on-year drop had been recorded since records began in 1961. Consecutive months showed the rate was increasing down to the maximum of 1.4 per cent in July, leading to fears of a period of deflation which would be harmful to the economy. However, the INE's provisional figure for August showed that prices in the shops fell by just 0.8 per cent, data which is due to be confirmed next week.

The GDP data for the second quarter of 2009, also announced last week, showed a year-on-year contraction of 1.1 per cent, and a record 4.2 per cent drop over the year. Both figures are worse than those predicted and the annual drop is the sharpest since records began in 1970. The INE also revised last year's figure downwards from 1.2 to 0.9 per cent. Only two years ago, GDP expanded by 3.6 per cent.

The bad news continued last week with more INE figures showing the average mortgage loan granted in June 2009 was 117,000 euros, down 17 per cent on the same month in 2008. The situation in Madrid and Barcelona was reported to be even worse, with drops of 19.3 and 24 per cent respectively. There were 70,000 fewer mortgages granted in June compared with the previous year. However, the situation has improved since May, when 22.6 per cent fewer mortgages were granted than in the same month in 2008.

Capital gains increase

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Zapatero says expected tax rises will be "limited in time and scope." His comments on Friday followed those of the Economy Minister Elena Salgado on Wednesday when she said that, "all, absolutely all" taxes were set to rise. Sr Zapatero insisted that income and business taxes will not be raised and that the increases will focus on capital gains taxes.

Article published in 'Costa News'

new British Consul in Alicante

Friday, 04 September 2009

New British Consul

The British Embassy in Madrid has informed of the appointment of Janine Lamont as the new British Consul in Alicante replacing Juliet Maric.

Read more in this week CostaBlanca News edition

Efforts to control the flu epidemic

Friday, 21 August 2009

Hospitals gear up for flu epidemic

Swine flu cases expected to soar

By Tom Cain
WITH THE autumn fast approaching and the authorities warning of a surge in the number of swine flu cases, hospitals on the Costa Blanca are setting up isolation wards and getting ready for a mass arrival of patients.

Elche Hospital, for example has begun the construction of a special isolation ward that will be able to house up to 27 patients.

The move follows a recent directive from the Valencia health authorities giving hospitals and medical centres the freedom to establish their own emergency protocols in the event of an epidemic.

Each facility can determine how many doctors and nursing staff it can use and how many beds it can reserve and the size of the isolation area it establishes.

To that end Elche Hospital has decided to turn the outside area of its emergency department into a purpose- built isolation. Work on the project has already begun and will be completed next month.

Hospital is also setting aside areas that will deal solely with children suspected of having the virus.

As each medical facility puts its protocols into action the health authority continues to keep its 24-hour hotline open and the World Health Organisation has raised its pandemic alert to level 6.2.

The health ministry has mounted an information campaign at all Spanish airports, bus stations and train stations.

At Alicante airport posters have been put up in Spanish and English giving advice to travellers going to or returning from areas affected by the H1N1 virus.

Article published in 'Costa News'

Higher taxes for the richest in times of crises

Monday, 31 August 2009

Spain prepares tax hike for the rich

Opposition PP argues for budget ‘austerity' instead

By David Eade

José Blanco during RNE radio interview

The minister for public works, José Blanco, one of the senior ministers in PM Zapatero's cabinet, has signalled that a U-turn is in the offing and tax increases for the rich could be on the way. This has led to protests from the centre-right Partido Popular. Leader Mariano Rajoy has instead called for "austerity" and wants Spain's budget deficit reduced to three per cent of GDP - the widely ignored level set by the EU.

Last week in a radio interview Sr Blanco stated: "If we need to raise certain tax rates in order to guarantee social policies or public investment, then we'll have to do it.

"I believe in helping those who most need it and if in order to help the needy those who can most afford it have to tighten their belts in times of hardship, then we must say so clearly to the public."

Spain has moved from a 2007 surplus of 2.2 per cent of gross domestic product to a projected deficit of 10 per cent or more this year. Spending has risen because Premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has promoted nationwide public works to stop unemployment rising even higher than the current level of 18 per cent.

Following Britain?

So Spain could now follow in Britain's footsteps where top rate personal income tax will rise from 40 to 50 per cent next year. In June Spanish ministers, who had previously presided over the abolition of Spain's wealth tax, were denying the need for drastic tax rises. However, fuel and tobacco taxes have risen and business leaders fear increases in other taxes, including value-added tax and possibly income tax.

Read the coments to the article published in Costa News

No Advance in the Valencian Healthcare System

Thursday, 03 September 2009

Healthcare in the Valencia Region - nothing new

Despite recent reports suggesting changes are being made to the public healthcare system in the Valencia Region regarding the treatment of certain groups of expat residents, nothing has materialised.

Talks over a quota system that has already been implemented in other regions have not yet given a solution to groups such as early UK retirees.

The ball now lies in the Valencian government's court as it is its health system which has to announce any modifications. Many expats have complained that speculation regarding quotas, and who exactly will benefit from the alleged modifications, have only increased confusion.

CBNews will publish the accurate information when the Valencian government finally produces the specific details of the expected changes.

Article published in 'Costa News'

Britons in Spanish politics

British people who live in Spain wish to contribute to their town correct development and are taking part into local politcs actively.

British expats in local Spanish politics More than 43% of foreign councillors in Spanish Town Halls are British

Corruption linked to the PP

Another suspect called to court in the Mallorca corruption case

Suspects bailed in Mallorca corruption case

Spain's Supreme Court could take a year to decide on appeal against Francisco Camps

New corruption case breaks in Spain

Madrid spying scandal reaches court

Investigations continue into political spying allegations in Madrid

Taken from "Typically Spanish News"

Council on the brink in Benidorm

Council on the brink

Change of colour at Benidorm council appears to be just a matter of time

By James Parkes
BENIDORM mayor Manuel Pérez Fenoll and his PP council seen to have their days numbered in the light of recent development.

Read the article

Our position: The Popular Party (PP) has presented censure motions in several towns, the most recent one in Villajoyosa and mayor Manuel Pérez Fenoll came to our town to applaud and congratulate his PP mates taking advantage of the agreement with the turncoat councillor Francisco Pérez Melero, who said he left his first govenment team because the Valencian Government had promised him that they would give La Vila the 3.000 euros they owed it. This has been proved to be false since the "Consell" hasn't paid anything yet while the Spanish Government has already given La Vila several times that quantity without conditioning it to any treason at all.

How can the PP members be so hypocritical? They put forward censure motions (by not very clear means) and if the rival party is in a situation (they haven't been looking for o preparing, as the PP did in the other towns), then they appeal to the anti-turncoat agreement between the big parties in order not to lose the government. That is ridiculous. They have broken that agreement too many times so it does not longer exist!

Socialists and Democrats spell out demand for a new direction for Europe

On 13th July the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament set out forceful demands for the Presidency of the European Commission in a letter welcoming his newly-elected Euro MPs to their first parliamentary session in Strasbourg.

Martin Schulz informed S&D Group members – the only European Parliament group to represent all 27 EU countries -- that he and his vice-presidents “believe that Europe needs a new impetus and a new direction.”

Calling on the Commission Presidency candidate to “enter immediately into a serious and intensive political dialogue with our Group”, Mr Schulz set out 11 key issues that “correspond to the urgent expectations of our citizens towards the European Union”.

The key issues

Solidarity

MBE for charity worker

By Nikki Luxford
La Xara resident Joy Goodrick has been awarded an MBE for her charity work over the past years.

The 81-year-old was awarded the MBE after six people, including a Spanish councillor and Father John, nominated her.

Since her husband died 16 years ago, Joy has volunteered for HELP which includes work in the shop in La Xara every Monday, as well as helping with fundraisers which have seen the charity raise money to buy special care beds, wheelchairs and other useful equipment.

When asked how she was notified, Joy Goodrick said: "I received a call from the Embassy in Madrid who explained to me that I had been made an MBE. I was completely dumbfounded, but my family and friends are extremely delighted for me."

Joy Goodrick, who has been visiting Spain since 1962 moved here permanently in 1993. During her working life she cared for sick children and continued her charity work with HELP.

The official award ceremony will be held in the autumn at Buckingham Palace and she will receive her MBE from either the Queen or another member of the royal family.

Article from Costa News

Less noise from building work during the summer

Summer building moratorium

By Tom Cain

COSTA councils are being urged by businessmen in the commercial sector to halt all private building work during the summer season so as to not damage an already weakened tourism sector.

They are also being asked to speed up any outstanding public projects and not to initiate any new ones until later in the year.

In most cases councils are paying heed to the demands and modifying their local bylaws so restrictions can be brought in.

Many, including Benidorm, have told constructors to stop all work in town centre zones between July 1 and September 1. The only work permitted will be projects considered to be of general public interest.

In Calpe, constructors who flout noise level bylaws will face fines of between 90 and 3,000 euros while in Benissa fines for ignoring summer building restrictions could be as hight as 6,000 euros.

In other towns where public works projects are taking place, councils have been asked to speed them up so that are finished before the summer influx of tourists, although in some cases this will not be possible due to the size and complexity of some projects.

Article from Costa News

Let's see if it is taken into account in La Vila.

Trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dear friends, We are pleased to inform you that PES activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina are inviting 20 PES activists from entire Europe to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 7th to 14th July and to join as on the „March of peace“. This March is held annually, and it is to honor the victims of Srebrenica. On this March the participants are walking for three days and crossing around 100 km (62,14 mi), until they get to Srebrenica. This March is the opposite route of the one the survivors had to cross in order to survive.

If you need any other information please contact us on this e-mail edin_trebinjac@hotmail.com, or you can contact us on this number 0038761441468., also you can visit web page www.marsmira.org/s_en/prva.html to get more information about the route. We will register everyone, so that this web page is only for information, as we will go as a group. Send your application form on this email edin_trebinjac@hotmail.com

The deadline for sending applications is 18th of June Looking forward to seeing you in Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Trebinjac PES @activists Coordinator for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Files:
Invitation.doc
Programme.doc
Registration form.doc

Information from PES

Right to die

Junta approves pioneering ‘dignified death' law for terminally ill patients

By Oliver McIntyre

The Junta de Andalucía cabinet on Monday approved a ‘right to die' law that, once formally passed by the regional parliament, will be the first of its kind in Spain.

The law, aimed at providing terminally ill patients the right to a ‘dignified death', allows them to reject artificial means of life support, including halting already ongoing treatment such as by disconnecting a respirator.

It also allows the use of palliative sedation in terminal cases, which could be used to minimise the suffering of someone who elected to be removed from life support.

The rejection of artificial life support can also be made in advance via the creation of a living will, which doctors will be obligated to respect in the event that injury or illness has left a patient incapacitated to express his or her wishes.

Unless there are medical contraindications, terminal patients will have the right to receive palliative care in their own home, and in the company of family members. Those who must be hospitalised will be guaranteed their own, unshared hospital room.

The Junta's health chief, María Jesús Montero, who oversaw the drawing up of the legislation with input from health professionals, scientists and others, said the law in no way addresses euthanasia (actively provoking death) or assisted suicide (helping someone to actively take their own life), both of which are criminal offences under Spanish law.

She said Andalucía's ‘right to die' law was inspired by cases such as that of Inmaculada Echevarría, the Granada woman who fought a legal battle before finally winning permission to be disconnected from her respirator in 2007, or the malpractice accusations against doctors at Madrid's Severo Ochoa hospital over the sedation they administered to terminally ill patients.

Article from Costa News

New rules for electricity supplies

As from July 1, nationwide regulations regarding who supplies electricity to around 1.2 million people in Alicante Province will change under the government's new Tarifa de Último Recurso (TUR) scheme.

Between now and then customers who use less then 10kW of electricity each month have to decide which of the five suppliers they want to be contracted to and make the necessary arrangements, anybody who fails to do so will automatically be contracted to the company they are currently with.

The TUR scheme has been put in place in order to help reduce bills for people who habitually use less energy than others.

Anyone wishing to change to another company can do so at no cost, and failure to elect one of them will not result in supplies being cut.

Watchdogs are advising people to wait until the situation regarding costs become clearer before making any decisions about changing suppliers.

Read the whole article published in Costa News

European elections: We need more PES, not less PES

While we await the final results of the European elections, it is obvious our socialist and social democratic family had a disappointing result. We face a more conservative European Parliament, with a right that is more euro-sceptic and more nationalistic than before. The low participation rate was a huge problem, especially for us. Our voters stayed away. They simply didn’t see the relevance of these elections. They did not see the political choices at European level - perhaps not surprising since these elections were mainly fought over national political disputes.

We had a European alternative, but it was not visible enough. ...

The far-right made worrying gains in the elections. People still need us to stand up for respect and tolerance for all, and to continue to fight to protect all workers from the recession. ...

Read whole article and its comments

Composition of the next European Parliament

Electoral night - live video streaming and results!

Submitted by editor on Sun, 07/06/2009 - 17:54.

Here comes the moment! Today we will know the composition of the next European Parliament! Stay with us!
The PES broadcasts a video streaming from the European Parliament in Brussels, meanwhile we will constantly update on this page the results coming from the 27 European countries. Tonight, live on www.elections2009.pes.org !

Results live on the EP website - click on your country to know the national results!

Read more

It's your Choice!

Here is an intresting video for the elections on the European Parlament. It was done by German students from the university of Bonn. They want to call up the people with this spot to go to the polls. Enjoy the video and when you like it, show it ... read more

Strategic Thinking

With less than a hundred hours to Election Day, I would like to say how impressed I am with the Swedish Social Democrats (S) campaign. On Saturday, I went to Linköping to learn from local activists in how to reach out to different groups of voters. ...

read more

Final call to vote

The European elections have now started in the UK and the Netherlands and by Sunday evening will be completed in all 27 EU member countries. The elections are a vote on the policy, direction and leadership of the European Union. It is the Parliament ...

read more

Don't throw your vote away!

You choose - but please don't throw your vote away!

By Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists You choose – but please don’t throw your vote away!Like it or not, Europe is a part of your government, and Brussels is one of the seats of your democracy. There’s the Town ... read more

Measures to deal with the crisis

During his speech, Celestino Corbacho, Minister of Work and Immigration and PSC National Secretary, recalled the social measures that Socialists are proposing to deal with the crisis such as a Social Progressive Deal which counts on the support of ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) and leads to an European Strategy for employment and sustainable and intelligent growth. Because, according to Corbacho, “now is the time to strengthen our Socialist values and aims; the crisis should not be an excuse to give up in social field. We should work for more and better jobs and equal opportunities for all. We have the chance to get out of the crisis and recover our Europe, Social Europe!”.

Read the whole article

An Exciting campain

The socialist are working hard to explain their manifesto for the European Elections and the importance of voting and achieving a majority, as Felipe Gonzalez pointed out, because we feel and really believe we are Europeans and because it is necessary to count with a strong, united Europe influential enough to develop a leadership together with USA and China which can make our world a better place to live because we are respectful to the people and our environment.

See some photos of his speech in Alicante.

Yesterday in Benidorm Bibiana Aido, the Minister of Iguality, encouraged us to vote to the socialist list for the European Parliament because we cannot be afraid of the future, of progress, and especially because we cannot lose rights already achieved.

See some photos of her visit.

Castellón president faces two years

CASTELLÓN provincial president Carlos Fabra (pictured) is facing a call for two years in prison and a fine of 6,000 euros for alleged document forgery.

The prosecuting council, personified by the anticorruption prosecution office, is demanding the sentence for the PP leader in the province for allegedly forging official stamps and signatures ‘up to six times' to obtain production permits for two agricultural product companies partly owned by his wife (see Costa Levante News no. 195).

Read the article from Costa News

We cannot rely on those who put us in the crisis

Reporting PSC-PSOE activists from Barcelona: For a coordinated European recovery plan from Igualada

For a coordinated European recovery plan from Igualada, one of the major catalan textile areas. “We cannot allow those who put us in the crisis to lead the policies to get us ouf of it. Progressive forces have to have the majority in EP to relauching economy putting people first”.

European Socialist have made a commitment to launch seven specific measures to get out of the crisis, to relaunch the economy, strengthening the investments in employment and sustainable growth, regulate financial markets and defend the establishment of a Social Progress Deal and a new Chart of Women’s right to guarantee equal opportunities.

Read the article

Mr. Zapatero in Valencia

La Fonteta (23-05-09) Packed with enthusiastic progressists!

See more photos

Our mates from la Vila went to Valencia

Mr Zapatero said we must vote for the European Socialists because these represent what the majority of peolpe in Spain and in Europe think. We socialists, like most people in the street, are for progress, respecting others and our surroundings, defending democracy and getting new rights for the future.

He said that Mr Rajoy, the leader of the left-wing party (PP), had tried to frighten citizens by telling them that with the socialist Spain would break into pieces, and there it is united and with a socialist president in the Basque Autonomous Community. Moreover, as José Fernándo Lopez Aguilar, number one in the Spanish socialist list for the European Parliament, put it, we need a strong, united Europe able to play the important role of leadership towards a more reasonable, juster world!

Mr Rajoy had foreseen the disappearance of families, and no such thing has happened. on the contrary, the are far more families, and of more types, and people are happier because they can love who they love and be respected, without feeling quilty or ashamed. Tolerance is what we need, not hypocrisy.

The President added that during the Debate of the State of the nation Rajoy was unable to present even just one proposal to help Spain go out of the world crisis, whereas Zapatero presented a full programme of ideas and has been able to make them prosper. So he assures us that we will see the end of the crisis -and it will not take very long-, but, as the socialists do everything, making changes so that it will not happen again -at least in the same terrible way: by making our economy strong basing it, not longer and exclusively on the building business, but investing in new jobs and industry developed from ecology and social services. Those work sources will never end!

The Audience was happy to hear left-wing ideas again!

Count down to July 7

The campaign has started!

Yesterday night before 24.00 h. everybody was prepared to start the campaign for the European Elections as usual with the putting up of posters asking for our vote. And so did the socialists in la Vila. See some photos.

Regional president in the dock

Big cheese testifies in corruption case
By Tom Cain
VALENCIA regional president Francisco Camps was in court on Wednesday to answer charges that he received gifts from a company involved in the Operation Gürtel corruption scandal in exchange for political favours.
Nearly all leading Valencian PP members, starting with Valencia mayoress Rita Barberá, turned up at the courthouse show their support, which was also voiced by party leader Mariano Rajoy.
Sr Camps was in court from 08.25 until 11.27 and on exiting he told waiting reporters he was ‘very satisfied' with the outcome and he hoped it would be the end of what has been a very difficult few months.
During the hearing he said he had paid cash for the suits and other clothes in question, but he did not have any receipts.
When questioned on other matters he said he did not have any other information because his knowledge of the case was limited.
He did admit that he knew Álvaro Pérez, the man who ran the promotional company Orange Market in Valencia, but only on a personal level and he denied ever doing any favours for him.
On leaving the court he was bombarded with questions from the media but he refused to answer any of them. He was also met with angry shouts from some members of the public, who called for him to resign.

Article from Costa News

The warmth of the sun and of Spanish people

Historic day for expats
PMs visit Torrevieja and Alfaz del Pi
By Tom Cain
SPANISH prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his Norwegian counterpart Jens Stoltenberg joined almost 3,500 people on Sunday to celebrate Norway Day in Alfaz del Pi.
At the start of the day the Norwegian PM paid a visit to Torrevieja where he met with Norwegian residents there.
Later in the day he arrived in Alfaz where he met up with Sr Zapatero to enjoy the Norway Day celebrations with music and traditional dancing.
During his speech to the public, PM Stoltenberg told the Norwegian community that they needed not only to enjoy the warmth of the sun on the Costa Blanca but also enjoy the warmth of the Spanish people.
Sr Zapatero thanked them for their efforts in bringing the Norwegian culture to the town and told them they would always be welcome in Spain.
Sr Zapatero arrived in Alfaz by helicopter at 14.50, landing at the football pitch where he was welcomed by government delegate in Alicante, Ricardo Peralta and sub-delegate in Alicante, Encarna Llinares along with the head of the Guardia Civil.
Before his arrival, Prime Minister Stoltenberg participated in the traditional parade through the town accompanied by mayor Vicente Arques.

Article from Costa News

In the photo, behind Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, holding a child on his knees, we can see Herick Campos, the National Deputy from Villajoyosa.

What will they vote?

What matters is not what they think but what they will vote!

There are people who think and say things like these:
Climate change is a lie.
Immigrants take jobs from us.
In Europe there is only room for one religion.
I believe health care should be private.
Homosexuality is an illness.
I'm for free reduncencies.
I'm in favour of death penalty.

The problem is not what they think, but who they are going to vote for!

The Importance of The European elections

Sant Jaume d’Enveja, a town i n the South of Catalonia in the banks of the Ebre, is the place where PSC-PSOE activists have celebrated the third PES European Day of Action, “Fighting climate change”.

Alejandro Colldefors, who is PSC candidate to the European elections as well as responsible for the PSC's European working group focused on Europe and International matters, stressed the crucial importance of the elections on June 7th. He claimed that the next European elections may be interpreted through a national perspective and as a test for Spanish government. However, the message we must give is that neoliberal and conservative European policies are the ones that have led us to the current unsustainable crisis situation. That is why, Colldefors said, “Change has to come to Europe too”. He also recalled that among 27 Member States, only 8 are led by socialists, social-democrats or labourists, but only one among the largest countries: Spain. Then, he explained that European Socialists campaign – and PSOE-PSC campaign – will focus on essential issues to deal with the crisis and establish a true and new European Social model. One of these main topics is Climate change.

On the other hand, Sandra Ramos, PSC candidate to the European elections for Tarragona region – where Sant Jaume d’Enveja is located-, underlined that the Socialists are making a united and common European proposal to fight against climate change, in contrast to conservative forces that are dependent on particular economical interests. Ramos remarked that there are still some European right-wing members that are sceptical about the scientific research on climate change effects – such as the former right-wing Spanish Prime Minister JM. Aznar- and vote against many key measures such as Sun protection laws or policies to improve water control. Furthermore, Ramos considers that the Common Energy Policy is a key issue along with the established aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% in 2020 and increase the use of renewable energies. On a local level, a great deal for water management and the increase and improvement of railway networks should become European priorities for the next EP mandate. That’s why Ramos stressed that a progressive majority is needed to face all these great challenges in a sensitive and social way, putting people first.

Read the whole article

European Day of Action - Special report from Mallorca

This was an exiting experience! It was a pleasure to see all those activists engaging in a debate with their MEP. Several topics were touched: the European Elections, why it is important to go to vote, how the 7th of June is an incredible opportunity to get the New Social Europe we want and then of course climate change, and the different view the European Socialists have toward the issue, and in particular towards the potential of renewable energy, in comparison to the EPP, which only proposes a return to nuclear energy, with little concern for the risks this poses.

What a better way to celebrate the European Day for Climate Change than a bike tour across Palma? Activists started arriving in Parc de Sa Riera around 11.30 ...

Read the whole article

Norway Day

It's been a lovely celebration. If you couldn't go, we have here some images for you to see!

See Images

Congratulations!

PM Zapatero to visit Alfaz del Pi

Premier to join Norway Day celebrations with Norwegian counterpart

Mayor Arques and Norwegian consuls announcing the visit on Tuesday

ALFAZ del Pi will be welcoming two prime ministers this afternoon (Sunday May 17) as local Norway Day celebrations will bring together Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his Norwegian counterpart Jens Stoltenberg.

Throughout the day there will be a full programme of events and thousands of expats are expected to participate.

Over 50 per cent of the population of Alfaz del Pi is foreign with the majority coming from other EU states and around 2,000 Norwegians live there.

The council has issued an edict urging all residents to attend the event as well as throwing the invitation open to the whole of the Costa Blanca.

Mayor Vicente Arques said that it will be an historic day for the town because it will be the first time that it has been visited by a Spanish PM.

The festivities will kick off with a parade through the town starting at 14.30.

The parade will finish at the Casa de Cultura where various other acts will take place including musical acts from Spain and Norway.

This will be followed by giant paella at the sports complex.

(Information taken from Costa News)

Winds of change

We northern Europeans often complain about the blustery, rainy, windy weather that batters our shores, but this climate also offers us great potential to face the economic and environmental storms overhead. That’s because on our very coastlines we have a resource which can provide more energy than the Gulf oilfields and create thousands of jobs, but with zero emissions: wind

But it won't happen on its own. It needs public support, it needs Government support at all levels including at the European level, and it needs political will. Today activists, candidates, MEPs and national and local politicians from the PES political family are holding the third in our historic series of European Days of Action, on the topic “Transforming Europe into the leading global force against climate change”.

That’s because we think a progressive majority in the next European Parliament is essential to get projects like the North Sea Ring, and the European cooperation it needs, moving.


Also in Spain: This morning there was a successful bike ride in Alicante (like in other cities) to make people aware that we socialists are determined to develop and use other kinds of energy, such as wind, solar and tidal energy, which are not only useful and profitable but also enviromentally friendly.

Property tax deduction to be axed

By James Parkes

THE STATE of the Nation debate which began in Parliament today (12-05-09) started with a huge shock for future property buyers as PM Zapatero announced plans to scrap the IRPF deduction for property purchases from 2011.

Sr Rodríguez Zapatero said the deduction will only be available to those who earn less than 24,000 euros a year (gross).

The scrapping of the IRPF tax deduction, which could be applied by all taxpayers to their main home (not second or holiday homes) is part of a new series of measures to cut costs to face recession.

Meanwhile, a reduction in company tax (of around five percentage points) is expected to help businesses.

Article taken from 'Costa News'

Zapatero shows the way for new and strong recovery plan

Reaccions to the debate on the state of the nation
Discuss in forum

PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen today praised Spanish Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for his fresh investments in jobs, education and training and a sustainable economy.

Rasmussen said “Zapatero is showing the way for Europe. This is the kind of smart and forward-looking investment that should be made right across Europe if we are to avoid 27 million unemployed next year in the European Union.”

“The PES has been calling for a new and strong recovery plan for Europe, and Zapatero is doing it in Spain.”

Rasmussen added “I cannot believe that Aznar is blaming the crisis on excessive public spending. It is absolutely ridiculous.”

Regional president charged

Camps charged

Friday, 15 May 2009

News Staff Reporter
VALENCIAN regional president Francisco Camps and PP regional secretary Ricardo Costa have been summoned by the Valencian Supreme Court (TSJCV) to deliver statements as accused parties in the Gürtel case.

The Gürtel scandal involves several top PP members in Madrid and Valencia.

Sr Camps and Sr Costa have repeatedly proclaimed their innocence regarding the scandal led by Francisco Correa and event promotion companies such as Orange Market, represented in Valencia by Alvaro Pérez ‘El Bigotes'.

Accusations against the region president include expensive tailor-made suits paid for by Orange Market and affiliate companies.

Both will have to stand before the court on Tuesday, May 19.

Article taken from Costa News

Protecting Democracy

14/05/2009 - Euro MP's intelligence jibe at Balkans sparks outrage.
A Danish Euro MP today provoked outrage over a claim that people from the Balkans are less intelligent than Northern Europeans and should not be allowed to influence EU decisions.

The remarks by Mogens Camre, deputy leader of the Europe of the Nations group in the European Parliament, are published by France 24 on: http://europeanelections2009.rfi.fr/content/20090512-balkan-people-less-intelligent-Bulgaria-Romania-Europe-Denmark

Socialist Group vice-president Hannes Swoboda said today: "This is an unbelievable statement, which is against the principles of democracy.

"The next step is that only voters from right wing parties should decide because they are more clever than the rest. This was an attitude which led to fascist and Nazi positions.

"Such a division of Europe into good nations and bad nations is totally unacceptable."

MEPs question the European Commission and Council

The last set of written questions to the Commission from PSE Group MEPs range from a question on swine flu to litter in the North Sea.

MEPs question the Commission and Council. European parliament rules make provision for MEPs to submit written questions to the European commission and to the Council. This can be an opportunity for MEPs to take up issues of local concern that have been raised by their constituents or to follow-up on the implementation of European laws.

Whilst Spanish MEP Antolin Sanchez Presedo is concerned that milk producers in Galicia are suffering from apparent unfair competition on the milk market, German MEP Barbara Weiler wants to know whether there are plans to cut the funding to town twinning projects. Vice-president Harmen Desir of France is asking the Commission to step up action on press freedom and human rights in Tunisia.

Written questions to the Commission from PSE Group MEPs - May 2009

European activists residing in Spain collaborate with PES

The Bologna Process, youth mobility, internet rights… another stop for the PES Virtual Tour!

On the evening of Friday, 8 May, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen logged onto Skype for the next stop on the ‘Virtual Tour', this time spending 30 minutes talking with some 25 activists from the Balearic Islands city group gathered on the other side of the screen.

The meeting was moderated by local Spanish MEP Teresa Riera. Among many topics discussed were: the importance of the participation of young people in the coming election; the Bologna Process and mobility of young people; internet access as fundamental right of citizenship in the twenty-first century, and much more...

SPECIAL REPORT FROM BARCELONA, PSC (PSC-PSOE) activists: “Citizens’ rights in a safe Europe”

PSC (PSC-PSOE) activists took part in PES second DOA "A New Social Europe-giving people a fairer deal" Socialist Catalan Party (PSC-PSOE, Spain) has participated in PES Day of Action, “A New Social Europe- giving people a fairer deal”, on May 7th, celebrating a seminar titled “Citizens’ rights in a safe Europe” in Barcelona.

According to the exchange of opinions between the speakers and the audience, current crisis should be dealt with the thought MORE EUROPE AND MORE SOCIAL POLICIES, investing in solidarity and in people welfare and strengthening European values, which are progressive values. By returning to social Europe, by putting people first we can recover Europeism and pride of European citizenship. Otherwise, if right majority is renewed, Europe will walk straightforward to closeness, intolerance, lack of solidarity and loss of social rights.

PSOE invites you to a campaign exchange in Madrid

PSOE is inviting comrades from other European countries to join their campaign on the weekend of May 30. On May 30 you can participate in the meeting of PES activits (Spanish and from abroad) with Juan Fernando López Aguilar the head of the Spanish list to the European Parliament.

The meeting will be in Spanish, so Spanish skills are helpful. The place will be PSOE headquarters (Ferraz 70, Madrid).

PES activists who are interested in coming to Madrid, the PSOE can provide you with an accommodation at Fundación Jaime Vera. You can either stay there from 29 to 30 or from 30 to 31 or even both nights. Fundación Jaime Vera will provide meals to those who don't want to have their own lunch or dinner at the city center. However the Fundación Jaime Vera is not at the center of Madrid. There's a lot of public transport to get to the center of the city and PSOE will organise a bus from the Foundation to the center for the day of the event.

Thanks to SMEPs like Spanish A. Cercas, Europeans do not work 65 hours

Working time: " We have averted serious damage to the social Europe."

Socialist MEPs have slated the failure of negotiations between the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers on statutory working hours, but believe that no agreement was better than a bad one.

Socialists are demanding an end to the individual opt-outs from the statutory 48-hour working week that pose a danger to health and safety, make it difficult to reconcile family and working lives, and promote social dumping.

"The compromise proposed by the Europrean Commission would have made the current situation even worse," explained Alejandro Cercas – who took part in the negotiations with the Council in his role as European Parliament rapporteur – to the press on Tuesday.

"We would have lost hope along with our dignity if we had accepted such a compromise," added the Spanish MEP.

"In these times of economic and social crisis, it is vitally important to maintain workers’ trust in both Europe and the European Parliament," insisted Mr Cercas.

We need more Socialist Euro MPs to Defend your Rights

06/05/2009 - Outrage as right-wingers block extension of maternity leave. Socialist Euro MPs today denounced the right wing of the European Parliament as "archaic" after it blocked an EU law to extend maternity leave across Europe.

06/05/2009 - “Banks must behave responsibly in the financial markets,” say Socialists.



In Strasbourg on Wednesday Socialist MEPs voted to tighten European monitoring rules for the banking sector in order to avoid further future spectacular collapses like Lehman Brothers.

05/05/2009 - Socialist victory keeps 'A-G' energy labels on household products.
Keeping the "A-G' labels on energy-related household products such as fridges - combined with regular reviews - was a socialist victory in the European Parliament today.



30/04/2009 - Europe’s globalisation fund: helping victims of the economic crisis.
From 1 May, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, which has an annual budget worth 500 million euro, can be used to help people who have lost their jobs in the wake of the economic and financial recession.


24/04/2009 - For a Europe of Social Progress.
The current global recession, caused by a catastrophic failure of our financial institutions, is a wake-up call to European politicians. There must be a re-balancing of priorities, to put Europe's social purpose back at the heart of the European political agenda.

Involve your friends

Last Thursday 23rd April , the first pre-campaign act was held in Benidorm and a Belgian resident in L'Alfás made a claim. He regretted only being able to vote twice in Spain, for the local and the European elections. Our candidate Juan Fernando López Aguilar recognised it was a pity and encouraged him to take part in Spanish politics from his village and as a European to help the Socialist Party to go on conquering rights for everybody in the future.

In addition, he made a very good suggestion. We must talk to our friends about the reasons to vote for the socialists in the European Elections and we can do so inviting them to a tupperware-like meeting and having a nice cup of tea, and encouraging them to do the same, and so on.

Thanks, good friend for giving us so useful advise!

The Socialists' Struggle in Europe

Just a few examples:

24/04/2009 - End banking secrecy to fight tax evasion, say Euro MPs.
The European Parliament today backed Socialist demands to end banking secrecy in Europe by 1 July 2014 in order to fight tax fraud put at 200 billion euro a year.



23/04/2009 - New standards in building design to create massive cuts in co2 emissions.

The European Union supported a raft of measures with new financial instruments and legal incentives to change the way new buildings are constructed so as to drastically cut CO2 emissions.

23/04/2009 - Consolidating stability and prosperity in Western Balkans.
Socialists in the European Parliament consider that European integration is in the best interest of the entire population of the Western Balkans.