Friday, 11 March 2011
Political Corruption
The Attorney General Cándido Conde-Pumpido says that there are investigations into 730 cases of political corruption across Spain, with the PSOE leading with 264 cases, followed by the PP with 200. Other cases coming from smaller parties or, in 72 cases, for accused public officials without apparent political affiliations. The story comes from the left wing Público newspaper. http://www.publico.es/espana/270893/el-psoe-acumula-64-causas-de-corrupcion-mas-que-el-pp
Monday, 7 March 2011
Crematorio
The corruption in the real-estate sector - perhaps best enshrined by the goings on in Marbella over the past decade - has now given birth to a series on Spanish TV (Canal Plus) called Crematorio. There's a trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUyhmEx2lGM
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Candidatos Imputados
En estos momentos, los partidos políticos están cerrando sus candidaturas para las elecciones municipales y autonómicas de Mayo, pero dichas listas podrían incluir cientos de políticos corruptos.
En lugar de presentar candidatos con una trayectoria responsable de servicio publico, los líderes de algunos partidos están utilizando vacíos legales y ambigüedades para incluir imputados por delitos asociados con la corrupción. Hay poderosos intereses económicos que permiten que dichos políticos sigan en el poder, pero si dejamos claro que solo les votaremos si limpian sus listas e impulsan medidas contundentes contra la corrupción, podríamos forzarles a combatir esta plaga y sus desastrosos efectos sobre la vida pública, la economía y el medio ambiente.
No tenemos mucho tiempo. Enviemos un mensaje claro y atronador a los partidos políticos: no queremos candidatos corruptos en las listas electorales. Firma abajo para unirte a este urgente petición por unas elecciones limpias y una acción eficaz contra la corrupción, y reenvíaselo a todos tus conocidos. El viernes, antes de la presentación de sus candidaturas, entregaremos las firmas directamente a los principales partidos, y a través de los medios de comunicación durante toda la campaña electoral.
http://www.avaaz.org/es/spain_clean_up_politics/?vl
En lugar de presentar candidatos con una trayectoria responsable de servicio publico, los líderes de algunos partidos están utilizando vacíos legales y ambigüedades para incluir imputados por delitos asociados con la corrupción. Hay poderosos intereses económicos que permiten que dichos políticos sigan en el poder, pero si dejamos claro que solo les votaremos si limpian sus listas e impulsan medidas contundentes contra la corrupción, podríamos forzarles a combatir esta plaga y sus desastrosos efectos sobre la vida pública, la economía y el medio ambiente.
No tenemos mucho tiempo. Enviemos un mensaje claro y atronador a los partidos políticos: no queremos candidatos corruptos en las listas electorales. Firma abajo para unirte a este urgente petición por unas elecciones limpias y una acción eficaz contra la corrupción, y reenvíaselo a todos tus conocidos. El viernes, antes de la presentación de sus candidaturas, entregaremos las firmas directamente a los principales partidos, y a través de los medios de comunicación durante toda la campaña electoral.
http://www.avaaz.org/es/spain_clean_up_politics/?vl
A petition to sign against corrupt politicians on the political lists for May. There's a part in English on the website, although it seems more concerned with Rupert Murdoch.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Map of Corruption
Both the PP and the PSOE have said that they will 'exclude names from the election lists' of people under investigation for corruption. Both parties, according to El País, have happily thrown accusations of corruption at each other - and, of course, elsewhere when it suits - but 'maintain at the same time a moral ambiguity' towards their own.
An editor at El País writes this to a correspondent of mine: 'It is my personal belief that the non-functioning of Spain'’s justice system is the country'’s greatest problem and is at the root of almost all evil as it propagates a sense of impunity among wrongdoers and a cynical if-you-can'’t-beat-‘em-join-‘em attitude among the rest of society'.”
Defending some fellow-party candidates, the Secretary for Municipal Politics Antonio Hernando says, 'there's no corruption when nobody puts his hand into the till to transfer the money to his pocket'.
The General Secretary of the PP is Dolores de Cospedal. She says that the party has zero tolerance for corruption, but that 'there are some people under investigation, but then the accusations are found to be null and void'.
The PP is currently suffering investigations of massive corruption in Valencia and Madrid in something called the 'Caso Gürtel'.
So it seems that, by the time some of those better-known cases of corruption in high places are finally sentenced, the players can reasonably expect to be dead.
Here's an interesting map of political corruption (just the heavier stuff) in Spain.
In similar news, the two parties have agreed not to disallow 'transfugas' or 'turncoats' from their lists.
An editor at El País writes this to a correspondent of mine: 'It is my personal belief that the non-functioning of Spain'’s justice system is the country'’s greatest problem and is at the root of almost all evil as it propagates a sense of impunity among wrongdoers and a cynical if-you-can'’t-beat-‘em-join-‘em attitude among the rest of society'.”
Defending some fellow-party candidates, the Secretary for Municipal Politics Antonio Hernando says, 'there's no corruption when nobody puts his hand into the till to transfer the money to his pocket'.
The General Secretary of the PP is Dolores de Cospedal. She says that the party has zero tolerance for corruption, but that 'there are some people under investigation, but then the accusations are found to be null and void'.
The PP is currently suffering investigations of massive corruption in Valencia and Madrid in something called the 'Caso Gürtel'.
So it seems that, by the time some of those better-known cases of corruption in high places are finally sentenced, the players can reasonably expect to be dead.
Here's an interesting map of political corruption (just the heavier stuff) in Spain.
In similar news, the two parties have agreed not to disallow 'transfugas' or 'turncoats' from their lists.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Tips on House Buying in Spain (Wikihow)
'More unlucky foreign home buyers, mostly Germans and British, choosing property in Spain are in danger from government corruption scandals and building created without valid permits. This corruption threatens homes, mortgages and other assets. To avoid these kinds of problems in the future, when moving to this lovely area of the world, consider the following tips. How should the average Joe looking to buy a place in the sun avoid the all-too-real threat of seeing their dream bulldozed in years to come'?
This site is worth a look (but ignore the google-ads while reading - you can always check them later)!
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Spanish Property Auction Corruption
A brief insight into suspected corruption within Spanish property auctions within the region of Valencia and possibly throughout Spain.
Monday, 27 December 2010
Quote of the Year
'El problema de fondo, aquí, es la mentalidad de corrupción generalizada que se vive desde hace siglos y que ya se percibe como natural'. The essential problem here is the generalised mentality of corruption which has been the norm for centuries and is seen as completely normal behaviour.
Editorial, Última Hora, Menorca. December 27, 2010.
Editorial, Última Hora, Menorca. December 27, 2010.
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