What is wrong with politics in Spain?

[Perikles]

I just can't see them backing down its not the PPs way, in fact its not the way any political party does things here.
The people WILL be governed and they WILL do as their told or else!!

Well well, the PP has backed down. El País. I can't help feeling that this might be significant, and that politicians might start having to listen to the public. This might just be the start of actual democracy in Spain, not just paying lip-service to it.  .

[Guanche]

Well if I had a hat I would eat it........ But do we think they have given in to easily? I smell a rat, nothing in Spain is done that quickly or that easily.

While I remember if any one watches the Rajoy TV interview on Monday evening let me know how it went. I can't allow the wife to watch it! We would end up with no working televisions

[Perikles]

Well if I had a hat I would eat it........ But do we think they have given in to easily? I smell a rat, nothing in Spain is done that quickly or that easily.

I was watching and trying to listen to a discussion programme on the Spanish box last night, about this issue. You know, where there are half a dozen people all shouting at the same time. There was a PP bloke there, whose only argument was that the PP had the absolute majority so they could do what they want, despite anarchists and terrorists. This seems to be their perception, that anybody who disagrees with them is a terrorist. There was also some sensible woman who was a political analyst, who did not appear to be taking sides, who asked whether it was part of the democratic process when the daughter of the mayor was either married to or associated with the owner of the construction company who had the contract for the work. (if I understood correctly, maybe not, but it was clearly something stinky along these lines.) The PP bloke dismissed this as irrelevant. He just parrotted the "absolute majority" crap, and seemed totally convinced he was right. WTF?

Anyway, perhaps the mayor backed down before much more noise was made about the connection between him and the construction company. I think these riots could have a wider significance - people are waking up to the fact that Franco is still alive.

[Perikles]

And Iñaki is always worth listening to.

[Guanche]

The PP bloke dismissed this as irrelevant. He just parrotted the "absolute majority" crap, and seemed totally convinced he was right. WTF?

This has been my take on the Spanish elite for the past 7 years, and I say 'elite' not politicians because I don't thinK there are any politicians in Spain.
When ever I see or hear anything like this a picture comes to mind of a bull fighter in the ring standing on his toes with that arrogant look on their face and chest puffed out. Their sword in hand pointing at the bleeding and knackered bull ready for the kill. The bull fighter is shouting 'ATREVETE ATREVETE'!!

The bull being the Spanish public and the fighter every Spanish so called 'politician'.

[El Profesor]

And Iñaki is always worth listening to.

Ha ha ha.
"manifestó la alcaldesa de Madrid (Annie Bottle)  especialista máxima en meter la pata cuando habló de los atentados de Gamonal"

Ha ha ha ha, she's unbelievable.

They've stopped the building now, by the way.
If the Spanish people learn anything from this and start reacting a bit . . . then we can expect a lot of police brutality stories in the next few weeks.

[Guanche]

And an atempt to clamp down of the media no doubt. 

[Perikles]

Ha ha ha.
"manifestó la alcaldesa de Madrid (Annie Bottle)  especialista máxima en meter la pata cuando habló de los atentados de Gamonal"

Ha ha ha ha, she's unbelievable.

Yes, I thought that was a nice sting in the tail of that speech. The trouble is that the disturbances were not only locals making a justified demonstration, there were also outside activists bent on causing real trouble. These extremists do nobody any favours because they give ammunition to simplistic idiots like her, allowing the PP to label everybody in opposition as a terrorist. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that the PP itself iniciated some extremist behaviour just to be able to condemn opposition. Hitler knew all about these tactics.

[Janet]

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that the PP itself iniciated some extremist behaviour just to be able to condemn opposition. Hitler knew all about these tactics.

So did the Tory party in the 1970-80s ... and used them to very good effect to blacken Labour in the Winter of Discontent ... and usher in a decade of the witch from hell ...

[El Profesor]

Amazing things are happening in Spain.

Two Presidents of first division football clubs have resigned. One for being a thief, and actually being convicted to 7 years in prison, and the other for generally accepted and commonly practiced  fraudulent activity.

Who knows? maybe one day we might see our first politician resign? I doubt it though.
The guy sent to prison was the President of Seville FC. His friends made a noise though. Most of the Presidents of the clubs in La Liga, segunda and the Spanish football Federation publically called for him to be let off! Link
Presumably this was because they thought it unfair that he be locked up for something they all consider acceptable for someone in their exalted and untouchable positions. He stole several millions of euros of public money.
Anyway, nobody is going tomiss a football match because of this . . . and he will be replaced a "suitable successor". No change.

HERE is a really excellent article by John Carlin titled "Honour amongst Thieves", in which he says that bankers operate in the same way.

Oh . . . and he doesn't just mean in Spain.