Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

BREAKING NEWS: US president Joe Biden has announced that he is withdrawing from the upcoming presidential election in November.

He has nominated his vice-president Kamala Harris to be the Democrats candidate for the presidency, although others are gathering in the wings to make a possible challenge.

To go or not to go?

Biden needed to ‘fall on his sword’, after a series of mishaps in recent times.

Falls, stumbles, the dreadful, now infamous, debate a couple of weeks ago, make his age, 82, a serious handicap to his chances against Donald Trump, himself 77.

Mistakes, calling the Ukraine president Zelensky Putin being just one example.

Biden falls again [Photo courtesy of The Telegraph]

Trump’s popularity ratings have soared since the failed assassination attempt and then Biden contracted Covid.

The guy had to go!

Senators, congressmen and former president Barack Obama, were lining up calling for Biden to step down.

Curiously Bill and Hilary Clinton continue to support Biden!

      Trump Missed! [Photo courtesy of Reuters]

Kamala Harris ... or?

     Kamala Harris [Wikipedia]                   Gavin Newsom [New York Times]

     Michelle Obama [BBC]

So, will Ms Harris be the challenger to Trump? She has not been popular to date, but then, which VPs ever have been? Harris is from a privileged, well-to-do background, so has little appeal amongst Americans living in the rust belt. As a woman, and a woman of colour at that, she is unlikely to enjoy the support of misogynists nor racists.

Would Senator Gavin Newsom from California be a better bet? He is white, male and young.

Would Michelle Obama be a good choice, if she could be persuaded? Despite being black and a woman, she is very popular.  

I think Barack needs to remind her how pleasant it was living in The White House for eight years.

And wouldn’t Barack Obama make a great vice-president? The first ever man to hold that office and black to boot!

The US presidential election, which dominates the news agenda in any case, just got VERY interesting.

©  Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

BBC

New York Times

Pablo de Ronda

Paul Whitelock

Reuters

The Telegraph

Wikipedia

Tags:

Barack Obama, Bill and Hilary Clinton, BBC, Donald Trump, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, misogynists, New York Times, Paul Whitelock, Putin, racists, Reuters, Telegraph, The White House, Ukraine president, US presidential election, vice-president, Wikipedia, woman of colour, Zelensky 

By Pablo de Ronda

Which languages have the most speakers? It comes as no surprise that English reigns supreme, with over 1.1 billion total speakers—or roughly 15% of the global population. Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and French round out the top five.

However, the most widely spoken language in the world in terms of the number of native speakers, is Spanish, not always castellano, to be fair, with some 485,063,960 speakers. Around 379,682,200 people have some form of English as their mother tongue.

So, with mastery of these two languages you can more than get by in most parts of the world.

Background

Why is this the case?

Historically, from the 15^th century onwards, Spain and England were the most successful conquistadores, colonists and explorers, followed by Portugal, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. And they all took their national languages with them and imposed them on the natives of the countries they colonised.

After most of these countries gained independence, the “foreign”, ie non-native tongue, survived, at least as the language of politics, administration and commerce.

Christopher Columbus discovers America in 1492

India is a good case in point (English); as is South Africa (Afrikaans, a form of Dutch), Brazil (Portuguese) and most of the rest of South and Central America and the Caribbean (Spanish). Curiously, when the Philippines went independent from Spain in 1898, the populace rejected Spanish and reverted to the native tongue, Tagalog.

Important European politicians and officials and the English language

Although the 27 member states of the European Union speak a range of different national and regional languages, their politicians (MEPs) have access to translations of all official documents and may make speeches in their mother tongue, which are simultaneously interpreted by a team of high-quality translators and interpreters. In practice the main language of Europe is English.

So, how good at English are foreign heads of government (prime ministers, presidents, chancellors, etc)?

Traditionally Scandinavian leaders have had the best English. Germany too. Newer members from Eastern Europe tend to have leaders who are more than competent in English, yet the French, Italian and Spanish leaders, until recently, have been the most stubborn and obdurate, when it comes to the use of English.

Spain since Franco, France and elsewhere

Of the seven prime ministers/presidents of Spain since the death of Franco and the return to democracy, only one, the current presidente del gobierno, Pedro Sanchez, has demonstrated good skills in English. Former president José María Aznar speaks English these days, but he only started to learn English when he left office.

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, is the only French leader I can recall who speaks/spoke good English.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez

Top officials also have good English nowadays, eg Ursula von der Leyen (German - President of the European Commission ); Charles Michel (Belgian - President of the European Council): Jens Stoltenberg (Norwegian - NATO secretary general), and European Central Bank boss Christine Lagarde (French).

***

To hear how good at English some of these people are, click here:

European summit live: We're resetting our approach to illegal migration, Keir Starmer says at European leaders’ summit - BBC News

French president Emmanuelle Macron                                                                                                  German chancellor Olaf Scholz

Personal Note

I studied for a joint honours degree in Spanish and German, graduating in 1973. I taught languages in three state schools in the Northwest of England, in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside for 15 years, before becoming a schools adviser/inspector in Merseyside (St Helens and Sefton Councils) for a further 15.

I have lived in Spain for more than 15 years, where I have worked as a Spanish tutor, translator and interpreter. I am a sometime corredor (independent real estate agent) and property developer.

I am fluent in Spanish, so much so that I was happy to be interviewed twice for Spanish TV, during the Covid-19 lockdown and afterwards.

La Serranía de Ronda, un rincón con encanto para quedarse (youtube.com)

I am also fluent in German, since I have been married to a German lady I met here in Spain for the last 14 years. We only speak German at home.

I have travelled widely in Europe and have visited the USA and Australia. The only places where I felt uncomfortable linguistically were Greece and the Soviet Union.

Conclusion

To return to my earlier premise, that you can get by nearly everywhere in the world with Spanish and English, I think this is largely true.

In addition German is useful in Eastern Europe, as it was the first foreign language taught in schools in many Soviet satellite states from 1917 onwards.

French is useful in, well, France….. (only joking!)

French is also good in parts of Belgium and Switzerland, southern Morocco, some other former French and Belgian colonies in Africa eg Mozambique, some islands in the Indian Ocean, eg Reunion, and in French Guinea (South America), and the Caribbean islands of  Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, and Saint Martin.

Epilogue

So, with English, Spanish, German and my rusty French (studied to A-level) I can get by pretty much everywhere. The exceptions, as before, are Greece and Russia, but as I have no current plans to go to either country, that’s OK.

Other countries where I wouldn’t have a clue linguistically include China, Korea and large parts of Indonesia, but I’m not going there either.

The only country which is a longish flight away that is on my “Wish List” is Cuba. But that’s OK – they speak Spanish there!

¡Adiós and goodbye!

©  Pablo de Ronda

Links:

European summit live: We're resetting our approach to illegal migration, Keir Starmer says at European leaders’ summit - BBC News

Help me, Ronda - HELP ME RONDA (help-me-ronda.com)

La Serranía de Ronda, un rincón con encanto para quedarse (youtube.com)

properties FOR SALE - A1 INMOBILIARIA - Real Estate (a1-inmobiliaria-real-estate.com)

(28) Paul Whitelock | LinkedIn

Acknowledgements (Photos):

Amazon

Diario Critico

El Correo

El Mundo

Genially

Tags:

Afrikaans, Amazon, Asia, Australia, Belgian colonies in Africa, Belgium, Brazil, Caribbean, castellano, Central America, Charles Michel, China, Christine Lagarde, colonists, conquistadores, Cuba, Diario Critico, Dutch, Eastern Europe, El Correo, El Mundo, Emmanuelle Macron, English, explorers, France, Franco, French, French Guinea, Genially, German, Germany, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Hindi, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Jens Stoltenberg, José María Aznar, Korea, Mandarin Chinese, Martinique, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Olaf Scholz, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Philippines, Portugal, Portuguese, Reunion, Russia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, South Africa, South America, Soviet satellite states, Soviet Union, Spanish, Switzerland, Tagalog, USA, Ursula von der Leyen

Catching everyone - even his own ministers - by surprise, UK premier Rishi Sunak called a General Election for 4 July 2024.

Yesterday. 

I opted to try and stay up all night to watch the developing story. The last time I did that was for the Brexit referendum, eight years ago.

Here's what happened last night.

Thursday 4^th July, 2024

Also Independence Day in the USA, today is the date of the British General Election. Opinion Polls have been telling us for weeks that the Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, will win with a massive majority, possibly sending the Conservative Party into oblivion. If the Reform Party, previously UKIP, led once again by Nigel Farage, takes votes from disgruntled Tories, it looks even worse for the governing party, led by Rishi Sunak, the party’s fifth leader in 14 years.

Since David (now Lord) Cameron foolishly agreed to hold a simple yes/no referendum on leaving the European Union, the party and its several governments has failed on so many fronts, that many Tory MPs will surely be relieved to no longer be in government, when they lose their “safe” seats today. Some have already announced that they are standing down, in order to avoid the embarrassment of defeat at the poll.

Thursday 4 July 2024, 11.00 pm

Polling stations in the UK have just closed. The official exit poll predicts a landslide for the Labour Party. Labour 410; Conservative 131; Liberal Democrats 61; Reform 13; SNP 10; Greens 2; others 23.

This is only a poll based on 130 constituencies, yet in the last five general elections, the exit poll has been uncannily accurate.

I’ve just got myself an ice-cream and am going to settle down to watch the first actual results come in ….. I opted to watch the coverage on SKY News. I'm glad I did, as my former A-Level Spanish student, Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, former MP and foreign secretary in the Blair/Brown governments. I was impressed.

More later …..

Thursday 5 July 2024, 05.00 am

It’s six hours since polling stations closed, and the count started.

The state of play, at 05.45 am, as Rishi Sunak retains his seat, with 436 out of 650 results declared, is Labour 308; Conservative 67; Liberal Democrats 40; Reform 4; Green 4; others 14.

The Tories have lost a record 12 cabinet ministers, namely Alex Chalk, Therese Coffey, David Davies, Michelle Donelan, Oliver Dowden, Liam Fox, Lucy Frazer, Gillian Keegan, Brandon Lewis, Johnny Mercer, Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps. The detestable Jacob Rees-Mogg is also gone!

I’m going to take a break – I need a cuppa and an early breakfast …..

Friday 5 July 2024, 06.00 am - Labour wins the 2024 General Election                                      

In the short time I was away in the kitchen Labour achieved the 326 seats it needed to win the election. Sir Keir Starmer is the new Prime Minister.

Friday 5 July 2024, 06.30 am

With results in from 550 seats – 100 to go – Labour has 373; Conservatives 91; Liberal Democrats 51; Reform 6; Green 5; others 24.

Friday 5 July 2024, 07.30 am

Labour reach 400 seats with just 34 still to declare.

Bye for now!

© The History Man

Sources:

Cornish Times

El Periodico

France 24

Google Imagenes

Independent

Reuters

SKY News "Election Night"

Wikipedia

Tags:

Alex Chalk, Brandon Lewis, Conservative, David Davies, general election, Gillian Keegan, Grant Shapps, Greens, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Johnny Mercer, Keir Starmer, Labour, Liam Fox, Liberal Democrat, Lucy Frazer, Michelle Donelan​​​​​​​, Oliver Dowden, opinion poll, Penny Mordaunt, Reform, Rishi Sunak, SNP, Therese Coffey, vote, voting

For most of the year bars and restaurants in Spain rely on their outside space – their terrace – to provide the experience that tourists and locals want.

So, what is going on in Montejaque (Málaga: pop 960)?

All the terraces have disappeared.

[Photo courtesy of Trip Advisor]

Backstory

All municipalities charge a fee if the establishment wishes to mount a terrace. In some places it is per square metre; in others, so much per table and so much per seat.

The problem in Montejaque is that the local bar owners regard the fees as extortionate. They are certainly much higher than next-door pueblo Benaoján and even the mighty Ronda, just 20 minutes away.

The current problem

In Montejaque the situation has became dire. Alvaro Gutierrez, owner of two restaurants in the village, Entre Ascuas in Plaza de la Constitucion and newly-opened Meson La Roca on Avenida de Andalucia, is up in arms.

He posted a lengthy message on Facebook to highlight how expensive these fees in Montejaque are. He decided to close his terraces and just serve customers inside.

Bar Restaurante Entre Ascuas [Photo: Karl Smallman]         Meson La Roca [Photo: Alvaro Gutierrez]

It appears that the other restaurant owners agree with him and have also closed down their terraces.

What happens next?

Well, the restaurant owners have thrown down the gauntlet to Montejaque mayor Diego Sanchez (PP). What will he do? Who knows? He has to react and either accommodate the restaurant owners, or potentially compromise tourism in the village.

With several fiestas coming up, it is unimaginable that the terraces in the square will be closed.

I await the outcome of this stand-off with bated breath.

Diego Sanchez [Photo: Ayuntamiento de Montejaque]

Footnote

Berlin in Germany has opted to abolish all terrace charges for the next two years, in order to encourage and support tourism in the German capital.

What I think

It is the custom to charge for a terrace, wherever it is in Europe/the world. Fair enough. But it must be affordable. In the case of Montejaque, I think the Ayuntamiento has to eat “humble pie” and make a reasonable offer to the bar/restaurant owners.

Otherwise it’s going to be un verano complicado.

STOP PRESS

I’ve just heard that Alvaro’s terrace at Meson La Roca has re-opened, so I presume a deal has been reached between the Town Hall and the bar and restaurant owners.

At the present time no further information is available.

[Image courtesy of Facebook]

BREAKING NEWS

I visited Montejaque this morning, Thursday 27 June, and was surprised at what I found. Thursday is a bad day, unfortunately, as several bars take their día de descanso on Thursdays.

The square was empty apart from a handful of locals at Bar El Rincón. The other two hostelries were closed. There were no terraces in evidence yet several posters and banners protesting the outrageous charges for having a terrace.

[Photo courtesy of Marketing Teacher]

I asked what was happening. Had the Town Hall come to an agreement? Why had Alvaro Gutierrez opened his terrace at Mesón La Roca once more? But others had not? Nobody I asked seemed to know.

I was unable to ask Alvaro, since Bar Entre Ascuas was closed and Mesón La Roca doesn’t open during the day. The Town Hall had already closed for the day.

So we are no further forward, as far as the latest situation. Has Sr Gutierrez cut a deal with mayor Sanchez? Or, has he had second thoughts? Has the council backed down and reduced or abandoned terrace fees?

To be continued …..

[Above photos courtesy of Paul Whitelock]

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Alvaro Gutierrez

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque

Facebook

Karl Smallman

Marketing Teacher

Paul Whitelock

Trip Advisor

Tags:

Alvaro Gutierrez, Avenida de Andalucia, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Diego Sanchez, Entre Ascuas, Facebook, Karl Smallman, Meson La Roca, Montejaque, Pablo de Ronda, PP, Paul Whitelock, Plaza de la Constitucion, terrace, Trip Advisor

Not at all! No “battle” whatsoever! My son Tom, wife Susannah, and their two boys, Wilbur (4) and Buckley (1) recently came to stay with us in Ronda for a week. Tom and Su live in Hastings, East Sussex, the site of the start of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.                                                                       

 The Austin-Whitelocks arrive at Seville Airport

There is a village near Hastings called Battle, where the 11^th century conflict took place. Hence the reference in the title of this article.

Background

Su hails from Hastings and Tom is from Warrington, Cheshire. The couple met at Rose Bruford drama college in Sidcup, Kent, where they were students. After graduation they moved to London, first Bow and then Leytonstone, so that they could pursue their careers as professional actors and musicians.

Career Moves

Tom Whitelock

Tom’s most high-profile role to date was in the hit Kinks’ musical “Sunny Afternoon” at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End. Tom played the role of Pete Quaife, the bass guitarist of the hit 1970s group. The musicians performed live – eight shows a week for over a year.

Tom Whitelock in "Sunny Afternoon" [Photo: Equity]

Tom has also appeared in Anthony Burgess’ controversial “A Clockwork Orange” at various venues throughout London; Lorca’s “Yerma” at the Cervantes Theatre, Southwark, south-east London; in “Romeo and Juliet” at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Bankside, London; and many other plays and pantomimes. As an amateur he performed in “The Full Monty” at the Altrincham Garrick Theatre  and Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” at Stockton Heath Playmakers.

Tom Whitelock in "A Clockwork Orange"

[Photo: East London & West Essex Guardian

Susannah Austin

Su, professional name Susannah Austin, is more of a singer/songwriter, following in the footsteps of her mother Claire Hamill*, who has just released her 15^th album. Claire still performs live and does tours.

Susannah Austin released her first CD* in 2012. She has also performed in fringe productions in London and Milton Keynes.

Susannah Austin [Photo: own website]               Claire Hamill [Photo: own website]

* Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin (youtube.com)

* Claire Hamill

Covid, parenthood and a renovation project

Their burgeoning careers as performers were abruptly interrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic, when the London West End theatres went “dark”, as did all performance venues throughout the UK.

They took advantage of this “pause” to move out of London, to Hastings, and to start a family. They sold their apartment in Leytonstone and bought a Victorian house in the seaside town, which was in desperate need of a make-over. Tom, with the help of Su, old mates from school and his dad, worked hard on the uninhabitable house to turn it into a home.

As I write the family, now with two children, have been living in their “dream home” for a couple of years and all the major work has been done.

Tom and Su pick up the odd “gig” from time to time, although the industry has not yet fully recovered from the “shutdown”.

Ronda

So, back to our week together in Spain. We mainly chilled out around the house, garden and pool, but we did a couple of trips. First, into Ronda to sample the delights of the Ronda Romántica festival; and a couple of days later a much looked-forward-to trip to the beach; we opted for San Luis de Sabanillas near Manilva on the western Costa del Sol.

Celebrations

There were also two important celebrations during their stay.

On 10 June we celebrated Tom and Su’s seventh wedding anniversary. Rita and I babysat so they could go out for a romantic meal together.

On 11 June it was Rita’s birthday. She enjoyed a relaxing and lazy day. She met her close friend Jill for breakfast and a bit of shopping. In the afternoon she debuted at a yoga class in Ronda and in the evening, at home, Su commandeered the kitchen and assumed cooking duties, ably supported by sous-chef Tom.

We enjoyed a fabulous Mexican meal of tortilla wraps and a range of spicy fillings, preceded by a Mexican apéritif and cava, before retiring relatively early to bed because …..

….. the following morning it was off to Seville airport, at 7,00 am for the Austin-Whitelocks return flight to Stansted.

We all agreed we’d had a super week – even one-year-old Buckley smiled the whole time!

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

* Claire Hamill

Dramatic “Reunion” (eyeonspain.com)

* Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin (youtube.com)

Tom Whitelock | Performers | Stage Faves

Acknowledgements:

Cervantes Theatre London

East London & West Essex Guardian

Equity

Paul Whitelock (all photos, unless otherwise attributed)

Wikipedia

Tags:

“A Clockwork Orange”, “All My Sons”, Altrincham Garrick, Anthony Burgess, Arthur Miller,  Battle, Battle of Hastings, Bow, Cervantes Theatre, Claire Hamill, Costa del Sol, Globe Theatre, Harold Pinter theatre, Hastings, Leytonstone, London West End theatres, Lorca, Manilva, Mexican meal, Norman conquest, Pablo de Ronda, Playmakers, “Romeo and Juliet”, Ronda, Ronda Romántica, Rose Bruford, San Luis de Sabinillas, Shakespeare, Sidcup, Stockton Heath Playmakers, Susannah Austin, “The Full Monty”, Tom Whitelock, tortilla wraps, wedding anniversary, “Yerma”

No, it’s not the lead-in to a joke! Far from it. This is the story of the people I met last Thursday, 13 June, in and around Ronda, where I live.

Will and Miriam

I met Will, an English writer, and Miriam, his German Lebensgefährtin, partner, at the cinema in Ronda.

Once a month Multicines Ronda shows a newly released film en versión original, usually English, with Spanish subtitles.

This Thursday we were there to see “Back to Black”, the new biopic about Amy Winehouse.

Will and Miriam live in Olvera (Cádiz). We exchanged contact details and vowed to keep in touch. We shall see!

Marilyn and Trevor

After the cinema I headed for home, but popped into my local, Hotel Ronda Valley, for a nightcap (NOT cocoa or Horlicks, but a nice cold beer – Alhambra on draught).

A couple approached the bar to pay their bill. They were clearly English, and we spoke for a while.

Marilyn and Trevor had owned a house in Montejaque, one of my stomping grounds, since 1998. They had sold it and were going to the notary the following morning to complete the sale. They were staying at the hotel.

Incredibly in over a quarter of a century our paths had never crossed, even though they seemed to know just as much about me as I know myself: my wife’s name, her house in the village, and my writings, including a controversial article I wrote last year for the local magazine “El Hacho”, as well as other musings of mine to be found on www.help-me-ronda.com and www.eyeonspain.com.

I wished them well, as they went off to bed.

Marta

Marta was also staying at The Ronda Valley. At first sight, we all thought: ‘Blimey! Look at her “tats” (tattoos)!’

She was covered from head to foot!

I got talking to her and discovered that she was Portuguese, 34 going on 24, a “rocker” (Yamaha 750cc), single and a hairdresser in near Lisbon.

I had breakfast/coffee with her two mornings running.

Marta was delightful! She looked good in her “tats”, and also in her biker’s gear!

“Ben”

The last “new” person I met that night in the Hotel Ronda Valley was “Ben”, from French-speaking Morocco. He approached me at the bar speaking English. He was doing a tour of Andalucía with his wife.

We spent a very pleasant while together, ranging over several topics, including Morocco and the best places to visit; politics in France; Spain’s president Pedro Sánchez; and muslims vis-à-vis alcohol – he is a wine-drinking follower of Islam! Good for him!

I saw “Ben” again at breakfast the following morning and we exchanged contact details with a promise that I would visit Morocco in 2025.

Footnote:

At the cinema on Thursday, I also spotted other “local” foreigners, so-called “guiris”.

There was Delphine from France, the organiser of the film evenings, and her partner Fernando from Ceuta; Fátima (Spain), a lawyer and PSOE councillor on Ronda Council, and her partner Drew, from England, a cycling guide; Ashley and Claire, English, owners of Andalucia Cycling Experience; April, English, and widow of Philip Amis, who was the brother of author Martin Amis and son of author Kingsley Amis; Philip and Susan (England via Singapore) owners of Hotel Molino de Cuatro Paradas in Benaoján; and Sheila, English, an environmental campaigner from La Indiana.

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

April at the Ayuntamiento - Ronda Council pleno (eyeonspain.com)

Back to Black (2024) - FilmAffinity

Hotel Molino Cuatro Paradas | Hotel Molino Cuatro Paradas, unas vacaciones rurales cerca de Ronda en uno de los paisajes más bellos que el sur de España tiene para ofrecer (molino4paradas.com)

Hotel Ronda Valley en Ronda. Web Oficial

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? (secretserrania.com)

www.andaluciancyclingexperience.com

www.eyeonspain.com

www.help-me-ronda.com

Acknowledgements (Photos):

Filmaffinity

Hotel Ronda Valley

Multicines Ronda

Paul Whitelock

World Atlas

Tags:

Alhambra, Amy Winehouse, Andalucia Cycling Experience, April, Ashley, “Back to Black”, “Ben”, Benaoján, biker’s gear, biopic, Ceuta, Claire, cycling guide, Delphine, Drew, “El Hacho”, England, English, Englishmen, environmental campaigner, Fátima, Fernando, France, Fräulein, French-speaking Morocco, German, “guiris”, hairdresser, Hotel Molino de Cuatro Paradas, Hotel Ronda Valley, Islam, Kingsley Amis, La Indiana, Lisbon, Marilyn and Trevor, Marta, Martin Amis, Montejaque, Morocco, Multicines Ronda, muslims, Pablo de Ronda, PSOE councillor, Pedro Sánchez, Philip, Philip Amis, Portuguese, “rocker”, “rock chick”, Ronda, Ronda Council, Sheila, Spanish subtitles, Susan, “tats”, versión original, Will and Miriam, wine connoisseur, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.eyeonspain.com, Yamaha 750cc

By Pablo de Ronda and The Spanish Fly

The world’s largest and most successful low-cost airline, Ryanair, has been handed a massive fine for illegal charging of its customers. Three other budget carriers, EasyJet, Voltea and Vueling, were also fined.

Ryanair, the Irish airline, has been found guilty by the Spanish government of levying hand luggage charges and other irregularities, and has been handed a fine in excess of 100 million euros. The other airlines involved received lesser penalties.

FACUA, Spain’s consumer affairs watchdog, has been lobbying for the government to clamp down on these charges for six years. Their perseverance has finally paid off, although the airlines in question are likely to appeal.

Until now the highest such fine imposed was by the Junta de Andalucia on mobile phone company Movistar in 2016 for illegally raising their tariffs. That fine was a mere 6.23 million euros, although it was later reduced to 1.53 million on appeal.

For more information visit FACUA’s website at https://facua.org

Tags:

consumer affairs watchdog, easyJet, FACUA, Junta de Andalucia, Movistar, Pablo de Ronda, Ryanair, Spanish Fly, Spanish government, Voltea, Vueling

By Jennie Rhodes and Paul Whitelock

Thursday 6 June 2024

The elections to the European Parliament start today, 6 June, and last until Sunday, 9 June, amid concerns that after the votes are counted, the Union may take a sharp step to the right. Extreme right-wing groups like the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) in Germany, VOX in Spain and the Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV), Party for Freedom, in the Netherlands are just three examples.

Backstory

Foreign residents of the 27 member states of the EU may vote in European elections, as well as in local ones, but not in regional or national polls. This is out of order, in my opinion. We pay taxes in our country of residence, yet may not vote.

Since Brexit, surely the greatest folly known to man and proof that voters cannot be trusted to make sensible choices, British residents of EU countries may no longer vote in Euro elections. So, I say NO MORE PLEBISCITES! Why elect a government to represent you and then have referendums?

The only way for any non-EU resident from another country to vote in the general election of that EU member state, is to become a national of that country. In Spain, many have done just that since Brexit.

EU residents may either vote in the European elections in their home country or their new one.

Eligible to vote in Spain on Sunday

Suzanne Mastbroek is originally from the Netherlands but lived in Belgium for many years before moving to Málaga province three years ago.

She opted to vote in the Netherlands because she says: "As a resident in Spain I could also have voted here, just like last year for the municipal elections, but for now I know too little about Spanish politics to do that. Maybe next time."

Mario Blancke is originally from Belgium. He got involved in local politics in Málaga province as part of the “Save our Homes Axarquía” association to fight for the rights of owners of illegal houses.

He says he always votes "in honour of all the people who gave their lives for the right to vote."

Mario adds, "Looking back at all the problems we faced with the regional and national government, SOHA decided to fight, and we made the difference."

Helen Sijsling, a Dutch national who lives in Málaga, says that for her "it is important to vote for the EU for solutions to big problems like climate change that do not stop at a border ".

Helen explains, "My husband and I received two ways to vote, one from the Netherlands, as we are Dutch, and one from Spain as we live here."

The couple decided to vote in the Netherlands.

Nolwenn Gaudin is originally from France and lives in Málaga. She decided to vote in Spain and says: "I had the choice to register for France or Spain and living here with very few voting rights, it's important to me to vote whenever possible."

She adds, "While the EU is not exactly the dream organisation that was described at its inception, many rights, subsidies and political decisions that better our everyday life do come from it.

“So it matters to me to vote for representatives that will defend my rights and opinions at the EU Parliament."

How to get a Euro vote

Any citizen of an European member state wishing to vote for the European Parliament in Spain should take an original ID document (no photocopies) which can be a national identity card, passport or driving licence along to a polling station on Sunday.

For more information visit: www.elections.europa.eu/en/how-to-vote/es/

Some have changed nationality

Lawrence Renaudon Smith has lived in Mallorca since 1993. After Brexit he decided it was time to apply for Spanish citizenship.

"Of course I will be voting in the European elections this time. The main thing for me about having Spanish nationality is that now I am once again living in Spain as my right, like I did as an EU citizen," he explains.

David Eldridge has lived in Mallorca since 2008. He says he started the process of applying for Spanish nationality in 2019.

"Basically I didn't want my European citizenship taken away and had a way to avoid that."

"Voting is the main practical advantage, but others are slightly easier bureaucracy and much easier travel."

But he says the biggest advantage "is a psychological one. Once again, my passport reflects my European identity. Having lived in different countries including outside Europe, my number one identity is European."

Adrian Stone Mills and Hannah Morrish Wilson have lived in Málaga province since 2002, where they own and run a small hotel. They say:

"In the years running up to Brexit we had reached our eligible years for taking out [Spanish] nationality and it was something we had discussed but never pursued. Brexit gave us the push we needed and in 2016, after the results were declared, we started the process for ourselves and our two children.

"Now as European citizens we will be able to vote in the upcoming European elections. We have our ballot papers at the ready, the research is done and we ready to go."

***

As for me, I’ve been contemplating doing this since Brexit. I did all the research, did a sample multiple-choice exam online (I got 98% correct), and then ..... I never pursued it.

But now, I’m sick and tired of having to join the long “Outside the EU” queue at passport control, while my EU contemporaries just swan through the blue channel without hindrance.

But most important for me is having the vote. As I’ve indicated, I can currently only vote in local elections. I want to vote in all elections and have my say in the country I chose to live in over 15 years ago.

So, I shall get my application in before the end of the month.

Photo: Euro Weekly News

© Jennie Rhodes and Paul Whitelock

Further reading:

Acquiring nationality - Residence - Citizens - Your rights and obligations in the EU - Tu espacio europeo - Punto de Acceso General (administracion.gob.es)

Why can’t we have the vote? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Useful links:

www.elections.europa.eu/en/how-to-vote/es/

http://www.immigrationspain.es

Acknowledgements:

Adrian Stone Mills

David Eldridge

Euro Weekly News

Hannah Morrish Wilson 

Helen Sijsling 

Jennie Rhodes

Lawrence Renaudon Smith

Mario Blancke

Nolwenn Gaudin

Pablo de Ronda

SUR in English

Suzanne Mastbroek

www.proz.com

Tags:

Adrian Stone Mills, AfD, Alternative fur Deutschland, Belgium, Brexit, David Eldridge, driving licence, Dutch national, Election, Europe, European citizen, European election, EU, European Parliament, European Union, Euro Weekly News, France, general election, Germany, Hannah Morrish Wilson, Helen Sijsling, Jennie Rhodes, Lawrence Renaudon Smith, Málaga province, Mallorca, Mario Blancke, national identity card, Netherlands, Nolwenn Gaudin, non-EU resident, Pablo de Ronda, PVV, Partij voor de Vrijheid, Party for Freedom, passport, Paul Whitelock, “Save our Homes Axarquía”, Spain, Spanish citizenship, SUR in English, Suzanne Mastbroek, UK, vote, VOX, www.proz.com

My local, the Hotel Don Benito, on the Seville Road just outside Ronda is a place where Monday is official “Guiri night”. The Hotel has been renamed twice in the last few years; first of all La Posada de Ronda, and subsequently Hotel Ronda Valley. Did the Portuguese owners realise that this was such a clever naming, especially for Welsh people, or indeed any British folk? (If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, all will be revealed at the end of this article.)

Anyway, all we locals, Spanish and foreigner alike, still call it the Don Benito.

“Guiri night”

The numbers “attending” fluctuate. I have known as many as 20 to be there. A couple of weeks ago there were 12 of us: four English, two Scots, one Welshman, one Irishman, one Hungarian, one German and two Anglo/Spaniards. Last Monday, however, I was the only guiri in evidence.

Of the usual crew, several were away. One family of five plus selected friends went to Lisbon, Portugal, to celebrate a 60^th birthday; a married couple were away on the Costa del Sol for a few days, getting their holiday rental ready for the coming season.

No problem. I know the local andaluces – farmers, agricultural workers, vineyard workers, builders, a car mechanic, a restaurant owner – so there’s no shortage of conversation. But, it’s nice to catch up with other guiris occasionally, if only to get a bit of English practice. At home, we speak German, and the rest of the time, out and about, I speak Spanish.

I wonder who’ll be there tonight …..?*

Note:

The name of the hotel featured in the article, Ronda Valley, is reminiscent of the Rhondda Valley in South Wales. This half-Welsh author finds it funny, in any case. So much so that he wrote these two articles in 2022 and 2023:

Another - new – Ronda Valley (eyeonspain.com)

The other "Ronda valley" (eyeonspain.com)

*PS:

I wrote this on Monday 13 May 2024. So “tonight”, ie Monday has now happened. How many guiris were there?

Nine! : 5 English, 1 Scottish, 1 Welsh, 1 Irish, 1 Hungarian

© Pablo de Ronda

Tags:

andaluces, Anglo/Spaniard, British, Don Benito, English, German, guiri, “Guiri night”, Hungarian, Irish, Irishman, Lisbon, Pablo de Ronda, Portugal, Posada de Ronda, Rhondda Valley, Ronda Valley, Scot, Scottish, Spanish, Welsh, Welshman

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos by Paul Whitelock

Tags:

agricultural workers, andaluces, Anglo/Spaniard, British, builders, car mechanic, Don Benito, English, farmers, German, guiri, “Guiri night”, Hungarian, Irishman, Lisbon, Pablo de Ronda, Portugal, Posada de  Ronda, restaurant owner, Rhondda Valley, Ronda Valley, Scot, Spanish, vineyard workers, Welsh, Welshman

In my last job before retirement in the UK,  I was obliged to attend council meetings from time to time. As a senior education adviser for Sefton Council (Merseyside), if the topic had something to do with my areas of responsibility, eg one of my schools, modern foreign languages, European matters, I needed to attend to offer expert advice to the elected members.

I also attended council meetings in a personal capacity in Warrington (Cheshire); once when there was a proposal to build a housing estate on green belt land in the village of Thelwall, where I lived (we were successful in fighting that off) and a second time when there was a proposal to amalgamate the separate infant and junior schools in the village into a single primary school. I was a governor at both schools and had a child in each (we won that battle too).

I had never attended a council meeting in Spain ….. until last Monday.

The April “pleno” of Ronda Council

I was asked to represent The Olive Press newspaper at this meeting to report on proceedings concerning a controversial plan to site a massive rubbish disposal/treatment unit on green belt land adjacent to a via pecuaria (drovers’ path).

This agenda item was scheduled for the end of the meeting, around 12 noon. An action group against the plan was intending to be there for that, and to mount a demonstration outside the Town Hall.

However, there were a number of other agenda items of interest to me personally, so I decided to attend the whole meeting starting at 10.00 am.

Topics

Other matters, which were discussed and voted through included:

• Keeping the Puente Nuevo open (the opposition party, PSOE, had proposed its closure).
• The proposed Car Park on protected land in Barrio San Francisco was confirmed.                                
• The proposed Palacio de Deportes near the Recinto Ferial was confirmed.
• The Escuela de Enfermería will go ahead.

The proposed waste treatment plant was next on the agenda.

The environmental outrage

You can read more about this in the current issue of The Olive Press newspaper (published on Thursday 2 May 2024).

I was asked by the OP’s editor, Jon Clarke, to represent this free campaigning newspaper, and write an article for him. Since I was going to the meeting in any case, I agreed.

As it turned out I was the only Press person present. The other free English-language newspapers published in Andalucia, SUR in English and the Euro Weekly News, were seemingly not interested in covering this environmental story.

Nor were the local and regional Spanish Press at the meeting. Ronda Semanal and Diario Sur were conspicuous by their absence.

When this item came up, the demonstrators outside entered the public gallery and were invited to make representations by the mayor, Mari-Paz Fernandez, who was chairing the meeting.

Three residents of La Indiana, the area in question, made impassioned pleas against the plan.

Manuela León, born and bred opposite where the company, Plant Rent Hire SL, wants to build the giant waste processing plant, by the River Guadalcobacín, said in an impassioned statement that the plans should be thrown out: “This is virgin countryside which will be ruined by this development.”

She added: “I am sure much toxic material will end up in the river, which flows into the River Guadiaro and then to the coast and into the Mediterranean.”

María Mena, a resident and livestock farmer, made a lengthy and emotional speech: “It’s all very upsetting. How can they consider destroying the local environment in this way?”

Paco X, a resident farmer, was outraged. He spoke briefly but emphatically against the proposal. When the discussion returned to the local councillors, he interrupted twice before storming out of the chamber.

In summary, Mari-Paz Fernández, claimed that her hands were tied.

“If the proposal meets the conditions of the law as it stands, I, as mayor, am obliged to sign it off, whether I agree with it or not. I would be deemed guilty of prevarication and subject to prosecution.”

Fernández urged objectors to submit alegaciones (written objections) before the end of April.

The council meeting paused for a comfort break, and I interviewed two councillors, Alicia López (PP), and Fátima Fernández González (PSOE).

I asked López about the issue of the proposed unit being adjacent to a vía pecuaria, an ancient drovers’ path dating from the Middle Ages and protected from development by environmental law.

López and I live on another vía pecuaria. “Could this happen to us?” I asked her.

“Possibly, but unlikely. Medioambiente, the environmental group, would intervene, as they will do in the case of the proposed plant in La Indiana.”

Fernández González and her party, the socialist group, are firmly against the proposal. Yet she told me:

“The mayor is right. If the applicant complies with the legal requirements in place, the politicians must pass it, or risk sanction.”

So, that was it. The council meeting resumed, and the objectors dispersed. We await further developments.

Conclusion

My first Spanish council meeting was not dissimilar to all those I attended in England a quarter of a century ago. Formulaic, turgid and pretty boring. Democracy at work.

Yet absolutely necessary if there are controversial proposals which impact upon citizens and their lives under discussion.

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements (Photos):

Diario Ronda

Paul Whitelock

The Olive Press

Tags:

alegaciones, Alicia López, Ayuntamiento de Ronda, Barrio San Francisco, council meeting, Diario Sur, Escuela de Enfermería, Euro Weekly News, Fátima Fernández González, La Indiana, Manuela León, María Mena, Mari-Paz Fernández, Medioambiente, Mediterranean, Olive Press, Pablo de Ronda, Palacio de Deportes, PP, PSOE, Plant Rent Hire SL, pleno, Puente Nuevo, Recinto Ferial, River Guadalcobacín,  River Guadiaro, Ronda, Ronda Semanal, Sefton Council, SUR in English, Thelwall, vía pecuaria, Warrington, waste disposal plant