ARCHIVED - Murcia and Spanish news round-up week ending 4th March 2017

Murcia president refuses to resign as spring weather makes a tentative appearance in the Costa Cálida

It's astonishing that anyone has even managed to do any work this week in Murcia given the large number of parades, parties, beautiful women wandering around wearing little more than a handful of feathers and their male partners sporting even more make-up, a fetching wig and a Tutu.

There is no doubting the main story in the Murcia news this week, with the headlines again belonging to Pedro Antonio Sánchez, the president of the regional government.

A meeting on Thursday morning between the president and Miguel Sánchez, the leader of the Ciudadanos party in the Region, ended with the former refusing to resign and the latter announcing that he and his colleagues are therefore withdrawing their support for the PP government.

In other words, the president can no longer count on a parliamentary majority, since the PP party he represents holds only 22 of the 45 seats in the Region of Murcia parliament, and could face a vote of no confidence or even another regional election.

The calls for Pedro Antonio Sánchez’s resignation stem from the agreement by which he gained the support of Ciudadanos after the regional election in May 2015, an agreement which stipulated that if a politician was placed under investigation for possible offences related to political corruption or misuse of power and public funds he or she should leave office immediately. Over the last few weeks this is exactly what has happened to the president in the case related to the auditorium of Puerto Lumbreras, and it is likely that he will also be called to testify in the judicial investigation into the Púnica corruption case.

However, he has steadfastly refused to leave office, and has received support from the PP in this stance at regional and national levels, maintaining that he has not been charged with anything and will prove his innocence during the court session next week.

Reaction

Once the news broke there was widespread reaction from all political parties, especially the two directly concerned with the meeting on Thursday morning. Other members of the PP regional government such as Noelia Arroyo called on Ciudadanos to continue supporting the model of government which has benefitted the Murcia since 2015, and vowed to carry on with the policies which they believe are beneficial for the Region, a view echoed by Víctor Martínez, who was adamant on Thursday afternoon that the voting pact is working, that the terms are being respected and that it is good for the Region of Murcia.

Sr Martínez also requested that Ciudadanos show “responsibility” rather than placing in jeopardy the progress made over the last two years in “solving historical problems and making progress in areas such as infrastructures and water”.

However, Albert Rivera, the national leader of Ciudadanos, expressed his "disappointment" at the PP’s insistence of “protecting” Pedro Antonio Sánchez rather than fulfilling the terms of the pact in Murcia, reiterating that the offer was open for the PP-Ciudadanos agreement to be maintained but with a different president of the regional government. 

The climate is now one of political manoeuvring, but in the midst of all of the allegations and counter-allegations it is important to point out once again that the fact that he is under investigation does not mean that Pedro Antonio Sánchez is guilty. Next Monday sees his appearance before a judge to answer questions regarding the Puerto Lumbreras auditorium case, an opportunity to clear his name which he has welcomed, but as things stood on Thursday afternoon it appeared that even if the Judge were to announce on the spot that he is completely innocent the arguing over his continued presidency would continue.

San Javier and Corvera, the airport saga continues

Hundreds protest against San Javier airport closure: A large crowd gathered outside the terminal building of San Javier airport last Friday evening to protest against plans to close the facility to civilian flights when the new airport at Corvera opens, arguing that there is no sense in closing the doors of an airport which is currently viable and profitable despite passenger numbers having fallen in recent years to only just over a million per year.

In recent years the most vociferous in their demands to keep San Javier open have consistently been the 72 Aena employees there, along with others working in ancillary companies, but the Plataforma contra el Cierre de San Javier group estimates that Friday’s protest was attended by over 500.

The protest at San Javier on Friday was attended by various representatives of political parties at both local and regional levels and trades unions, as well as frequent airport users of both British and German nationality, anxious to protect the Mar Menor airport from closure.Other voices however, continue to call for Corvera to open as rapidly as possible.

Has spring arrived in the Costa Calida? Not quite yet…

The last few days have at last provided evidence that an unusually cool winter may be coming to an end in the Region of Murcia, with clear skies, no more than a gentle breeze and warm sunshine pushing temperatures up into the twenties all over the Costa Cálida.

However, no-one should be too confident that winter has left us completely: the State meteorological agency Aemet has placed the Region on yellow alert status for strong winds and high waves on both Saturday and Sunday, and maximum temperatures are expected to fall to around 15 degrees. 

The temperature is set to recover on Monday, but this comes as a reminder that although March may be with us, and Easter just around the corner, even in the Costa Cálida it’s not yet time to put away the chunky sweaters and the radiators until after the summer!

In the meantime, the official Aemet meteorological summary for the Region of Murcia last month shows that February was very dry, but the data since 1st October show that this has been the wettest winter since 1949!

Murcia Brexit committee meets

This Monday Pedro Antonio Sánchez, the president of the regional government of Murcia, chaired a meeting of the “Brexit Committee” which has been formed to assess and minimize the negative effect of the UK’s exit from the EU on the regional economy.

The strategies being considered by the committee include not only ways of ensuring that British purchasers continue to buy from Murcia, but also possible tactics to open up new destinations for the products grown and made in the Region. At the same time, the regional government places great importance on the “Mediterranean Corridor” rail project, which when completed will provide faster and more efficient export links to the rest of mainland Europe.

The four main plans being explored by the Committee are related to Cuba, the USA and Canada, central and southern Africa and Iran, a country with a population of 81 million and a target especially for the sectors of food, agricultural machinery and irrigation systems.

Murcia unemployment figures stable in February: the Murcia jobless total is 12,600 lower than a year ago at 117,500.

Murcia tourist numbers show 35 per cent January increase: a rise of 35.1% in foreign visitor numbers took the January total in the Region of Murcia up to over 41, 000, and although this represents only 1.05% of the national total it still indicates that progress is being made in the efforts to reduce the dependence of the tourism sector in the Costa Cálida on the months of July and August and on beach tourism.

At the same time, while the UK remains the main source of foreign visitors to Murcia, the growth of other markets means that the British are no longer as dominant as has been the case at times in the past. The 15,338 British visitors in January represented 37.2% of the total, following an increase of over 11% compared to January 2016.

Cartagena pensioners begin pilgrimage to Caravaca: the Holy Jubilee Year is well under way in Caravaca de la Cruz, and with the advent of spring weather the walkers will tackle one stage every week before completing their 158-kilometre journey to the Holy City on 5th April.

Alguazas Via Verde improvements completed for Caravaca Jubilee Year: the regional government of Murcia has completed restoration and improvement work on the Alguazas section of the Vía Verde del Noroeste, the greenway which leads from the regional capital to Caravaca de la Cruz.

This work has been carried out with a view to improving conditions for the thousands of religious and non-religious pilgrims and walkers who will be travelling to Caravaca this year to commemorate the 2017 Holy Jubilee Year in the city.

Beach restoration work begins in Mazarrón following damage caused by rains in December: 12 of Mazarrón’s 33 beaches require repairs before the Easter holidays.

New bathing jetty locations studied in Los Urrutias and Estrella de Mar; five jetties will be installed on the shore of the Mar Menor in Cartagena.

Murcia alternative tourist accommodation data up by 20 per cent in January: rural accommodation welcomed 47 per cent more guests this January.

Environment and agiculture

Mar Menor transparency readings continue to improve: the latest measurements taken on Tuesday regarding water quality in the Mar Menor show that visibility in some areas of the saltwater lagoon has increased to as much as 2.6 metres, and spoonbill wading birds and shelducks were spotted near the Isla del Ciervo.

Progress made on Mar Menor environmental impact report: a preliminary document related to the required environmental impact report has been submitted to the national water authorities and the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura.

The environmental impact report will look at all of the means by which water runs into the Mar Menor, both above and below ground, the substances contained by each, and the measures needed in order to guarantee that they are free of pollution when they reach the saltwater lagoon. 

On the other hand, environmentalists are sceptical over optimistic Mar Menor water quality claims: the heavy rain in December could have a detrimental effect on the Mar Menor this spring, claims former oceanographic institute researcher.

Murcia climbs on board the hybrid car bandwagon: last year’s increase of 111% in hybrid vehicle sales was the sharpest in any of Spain’s 17 regions, while on the other hand only 48 new electric vehicles were registered in Murcia in the whole of the year.

Murcia government tightens bird flu controls: wetland areas under special vigilance include those in San Pedro del Pinatar and Mazarrón following the precautionary slaughter of 27,000 ducks in Catalunya as avian flu spreads into Spain from France.

Murcia Town Hall proposes to sterilize stray cats and dogs: at last the council considers how to achieve the aim of avoiding putting stray animals down.

Processionary caterpillar alarm in northwest Murcia: the arrival of spring weather means problems for pets in the Mula area.

New arrivals in Spain are strongly recommended to read this article as those who have not encountered processionary caterpillars before may not realise just how dangerous they are and that they can kill pets and cause severe problems for young children. Readers have emailed and commemnted on our social media that these caterpillars are being spotted all over the place at the moment and the problems are not confined to the north-west.

Desalinated water reaches the fields of the Campo de Cartagena: 8 cubic hectometers of water will reach the fields from Escombreras, and the first supplies are now coming to the aid of farmers in Torre Pacheco and Roldán.

Regional government to demand action over Mula castle: the owners of the 16th century fortress have failed to respond to calls for them to look after the property, and calls for expropriation are becoming louder still.

Two injured in Yecla road accident: a car and a lorry collided spectacularly between Yecla and Fuente la Higuera on Sunday evening.

One dead and ten injured in Puerto Lumbreras motorway crash: a coach carrying passengers of north African was struck by an articulated truck on the Murcia-bound carriageway of the A-7.

Campo de Cartagena Mayors meet to discuss common ground: joint tourism and environmental projects were discussed in La Unión, but the Town Hall of San Pedro del Pinatar regrets that the event has been construed as a move towards creating a separate Comarca for the Campo de Cartagena area.

Mazarron tobacconists robbed of 3,000 packs of cigarettes: the gang smashed down the door with a sledgehammer and made off with cigarettes worth approximately 15,000 euros. 

Carnival ends and Cartagena prepares for Easter Week: Cartagena authorizes building façade makeovers in the city centre until Friday of Sorrows.

Cieza firemen rescue injured dog from abandoned house: the dog fell through the roof of a house in the picturesque El Menju area of Cieza, on the banks of the River Segura, and a new home is now being sought for him in the Mazarrón area.

Murcia mortgage market grew by 8.4 per cent in 2016: the increase was achieved despite a drop in December activity, and at the same time the data reveal that the average loan capital of Murcia property mortgages in 2016 was 77,200€.

Spanish news round-up

Catalunya dominates the Spanish news as storms remove a landmark from the north coast!

There is little doubt that the biggest news story this week in Spain is one which is likely to dominate the headlines for at least the rest of this year, namely the issue of the proposed independence referendum in Catalunya, and in this context there was special interest in the visit of King Felipe VI to Barcelona last weekend.

Relations between the governments in Madrid and Barcelona are strained to say the least at present, and it had been speculated that the meeting between Felipe and the Catalan regional president, Carles Puigdemont, could be a tense one. Both were attending the opening of the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, the largest annual exhibition for the world’s mobile phone industry.

However, the personal relationship between the two men appeared to be cordial at all times, and no indirect references to the separatist movement were detected in his speech, which was delivered in Spanish, Catalan adn English, by the Spanish press. The image shows "the long and the short" of matters in Catalunya, with Sr Puigdemont flanked by Felipe VI and national vice-President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.

The King's visit to Barcelona was followed on Monday by the start of the trial in Madrid of Francesc Homs, the spokesman for the Catalan separatist party PDeCAT in the Spanish national parliament, who appeared in court for the second time in three weeks on Monday in connection with his role in organizing the “informal independence consultation” which was held in Catalunya on 9^th November 2014.

Earlier this month Sr Homs was a witness in the trial of Artur Mas, who was president of the Catalan regional government at the time of the consultation, and is accused of disobeying an order issued by Spain’s Constitutional Court to refrain from holding the poll. During his appearance, the spokesman, who is a lawyer by profession, proclaimed that it was he who had decided that the consultation should go ahead, and was adamant that his opinion was justified in legal terms.

If found guilty, Sr Homs could be barred from holding public office for up to nine years.

On the second day of Sr Homs’ trial former regional president Artur Mas gave evidence as a witness and stated that after 4^th November the regional government left the entire organization of the vote in the hands of volunteers, and although nothing was done to prevent it going ahead, neither did the Constitutional Court require the government to do anything to halt the process. This was followed on Wednesday by Francesc Homs stating that whatever the verdict reached, there will be an independence referendum in Catalunya this year.

Illegal immigration and migration

208 sub-Saharans intercepted while crossing the Mediterranean to Andalucia: Sunday was an Andalucía and the north African coast, with a total of 174 people being intercepted on board five small boats as they attempted to cross illegally into Spanish territory, a figure which was boosted to 208 by another operation in which the Moroccan navy rescued 34 people.

Father of “Spanish Aylan” arrives to identify the body of his son: 4-year-old Samuel was found dead on the beach of Barbate in Cadiz in January, and his father Aimé will undergo DNA tests which are expected to prove that he is indeed the bereaved parent.

Tourism news

15 per cent more British visitors to Spain in January: the boom in the Spanish international tourist sector shows no signs of slowing down as another year begins, with the figures released on Tuesday for the month of January showing that the number of people visiting this country from abroad was 10.7% higher than in the same month in 2016 at 3.9 million.

At the same time, the importance of the UK market to the sector appears to be growing still further: the number of British tourists was 15% higher than in January 2016 at almost 800,000, accounting for over one fifth of the total, and in the regions of the Comunidad Valenciana (including the Costa Blanca) and the Canary Islands UK nationals represented almost a third of all visitors.

Even more impressive is that British tourist spending in Spain was up by 25 per cent in January: visitors from the UK stayed longer and spent more in Spain than in January 2016, despite the fact that the pound was worth around 10% less than in the first month of 2016.

Benidorm hotels fight back against false British compensation claims: blood on towels, toilet paper and vomit stains are being used in the fight against “claim farms”, which consist of unscrupulous lawyers offering to process claims regarding holidays with the aim of getting money pack on “unsatisfactory” package holidays.

Fuerteventura celebrates Carnival with colourful regatta: the Regata de Achipencos is held every year in Puerto del Rosario and has become an essential part of Carnival in the Canaries over the last 20 years.

Where is the line between freedom of speech and being offensive?

The issue of freedom of expression and speech was in the new on various occasions this week, with three instances of individuals or groups of people being reprimanded for offending large numbers of people. 

The first man in the spotlight was the winner of the Carnival drag queen gala in Las Palmas drag queen contest, whose  costume and performance contained clear references to the Virgin Mary and Christ as itdeveloped into a supposedly erotic dance routine, offending members of the Catholic Church.

However, the Bishop of Canarias was not to be outdone, and responded by offending the relatives of those who died when a Madrid-Gran Canaria flight crashed in 2008 by insinuating that the act of Drag Sethlas was worse than the deaths of 154 people.  

But the debate over free speech didn't end there, and on Tuesday Madrid Town Hall banned an anti-transsexual bus campaign: the “Boys have penises and girls have vulvas” slogan on a bus parked outside the Bernabéu stadium on Tuesday was described as “a hate campaign based on intolerance” and “unpresentable” by local councilors. 

Economic news

Inflation in Spain remains at 3 per cent: Spain maintains its highest inflation rate since 2012.

Spanish unemployment fell slightly in February: February is not generally an encouraging month as far as the unemployment figures in Spain are concerned, the total of 3.75 million is 400,000 lower than a year ago in Spain.

Agriculture and the environment 

Catalunya river turns fluorescent green: the cause is a harmless colouring substance which is being used in the research into the water quality at the natural spring of Arinsal, but tourist boards might start considering the use of the substance on a regular basis as it provides unusual photo opportunities!

Wolf hangings baffle Asturias investigators: the latest casualty was found, still bleeding, hanged from a road sign in Teverga, bringing the death toll up to three in three days.

Huelva man faces charges after attempting to sell 100 antlers: the antlers belonged to young deer which cannot normally be hunted in Andalucía.

Madrid museum loses custody of the largest meteorite in Spain: the 130-kilo rock was discovered in the province of Granada in 1912 and was loaned to the natural science museum in 1934.

27,000 ducks slaughtered in Girona bird flu scare: the latest bird flu outbreak in France appears to have crossed into Spain, and quarantine areas are being established around poultry farms affected.

Aragon lake provides bird migration spectacle: up to 50,000 cranes per day gather at the lake of Gallocanta in Zaragoza.

A bit of everything in this week's weather!

Storm damage in Cantabria as 11-metre waves hit the north coast of Spain: the port of Santander was closed as seafront promenades disappeared under water and people were caught between the option of stepping outside to witness the spectacular scenes and taking the sensible course of action, i.e. staying indoors and waiting for the conditions to ease. Some even went for a dip in the Bay of Biscay as waves of up to 11 metres battered the coastlines of Asturias, the Basque Country and Cantabria.

Cantabria loses emblematic rock stack to 9-metre waves: take a good look at the picture of this spectacular landscape picture, because it’s not there anymore following the high seas in northern Spain this week. However, the odds are that if we wait for around 90 million years another similar formation will appear in the vicinity!

But at the other end of the country the Costa Blanca basked in early spring sunshine, as temperatures rose to 23 degrees on the coast of Alicante and the memory of 18^th January, when snow settled on the beaches of the Costa Blanca for the first time in decades, was banished!

Other items in the news...

Elderly Sephardic Jews spared language test for gaining Spanish nationality: the Sephardic Jews were expelled from the country in 1492, and the law allowing them to apply for Spanish nationality was introduced in 2015 as a belated move to correct a “historical injustice”. 

French boy electrocuted at Tarragona rail station: the boy touched the overhead cables at the station of Les Borges del Camp.

40 per cent of illegal drugs seized in Spain last year were in Cadiz: the vast majority of drug operations were on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

Barcelona butane lorry thief had indulged in an orgy of sex and drugs: the 32-year-old caused a terrorism alert while euphoric after a night of excess in the Catalan capital.

Terrifying seventh-floor rescue of 5-year-old Alicante girl: the girl was on a 10-centimetre ledge in the Plaza de Luceros in Alicante, and the video of the incident is not recommended watching for anyone of a nervous disposition. Terrified onlookers broke out into spontaneous applause when it became clear that all would end well.

Leon restaurants suffer mass walkouts of non-paying customers: eastern Europeans perfect the art of “doing a runner” en masse!

Alicante vet accepts 10-year sentence for mercy killing of his wife: the woman died on the operating table of a veterinary clinic in Benijófar, and in a confusing trial the vet claims that he ended the life of his wife voluntarily during a stomach reduction operation she requested because she had expressed a desire to die a painless death.

Two seriously injured in Salamanca Carnival bull run: the overall injury tally in Ciudad Rodrigo this year was well over 70.

Cocaine retrieved from manure at Tarragona warehouse: designer drugs among the dung on an industrial estate in Reus.

Spanish property news

Spanish mortgage market grew by 14 per cent in 2016: the upward trend in the number of mortgages being extended to residential property purchasers in Spain continued during December 2016, with the monthly total of 20,747 representing an increase of 6.9% over the last month of the year before.

This was the 29^th year-on-year increase in the last 30 months, and the overall total for 2016 was 14% higher than that of 2015: during the year there was increased mortgage activity in all 17 of Spain’s regions, the most significant upward movements being those reported in Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón and Extremadura, while the average loan capital rose last year by 2.8% to 109,759 euros.

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