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.
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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. ...

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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