--- canonical_url: "https://malagaaldia.com/contenido/6433/business-over-tapas-no-610" title: "Business over Tapas Nº 610" article_type: "Article" main_image: "https://malagaaldia.com/download/multimedia.normal.bbdbef55228526c0.bG9uZG9uLTQzOTU5MTdfMTI4MF9ub3JtYWwud2VicA%3D%3D.webp" date_published: "2025-12-05T10:24:00+01:00" date_modified: "2025-12-05T10:26:27+01:00" tags: - "news" - "newspapers" author_name: "Redacción" author_url: "https://malagaaldia.com/usuario/2/redaccion" category_name: "News in English" category_url: "https://malagaaldia.com/categoria/15/news-in-english" category_description: "News in English is a news service in English for Malaga, sent by José Antonio Sierra in his effort to facilitate the reach of languages to all citizens" --- # Business over Tapas Nº 610 ![london-4395917_1280](/download/multimedia.normal.bbdbef55228526c0.bG9uZG9uLTQzOTU5MTdfMTI4MF9ub3JtYWwud2VicA==.webp) *London* wp:paragraph A digest of this week's Spanish financial, political and social news aimed primarily at Foreign Property Owners: /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Prepared by Lenox Napier. Consultant: José Antonio Sierra /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph For subscriptions and other information about this site, go to [businessovertapas.com](http://businessovertapas.com/) /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **email: lenox@businessovertapas.com** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph ***Now with [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Business-over-Tapas/1477738702444589) (Like!)*** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Business over Tapas** and its writers are not responsible for unauthorised copying or other improper use of this material. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Subscription and e-mail information in our archives is never released to third parties. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Editorial:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Two rather hectic weeks have passed here in Spain since I last put finger to keyboard. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph On the fiftieth anniversary of Franco’s death, last November 20th, the Supreme Court (five ‘conservatives’ and two ‘progressives’) abruptly announced, five to two and according to inclination, that [they had found](https://archive.ph/e4UtZ) the Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz to be guilty of passing secrets (without any proof – the concept of innocent until proven otherwise having apparently failed its test). The written sentence to be published in due course (it would need to be creative). It turns out that, coincidence abounds, three of the five [were imparting](https://www.eldiario.es/politica/tres-jueces-supremo-condenaron-fiscal-general-impartieron-juicio-curso-pagado-acusacion_1_12796151.html) remunerative classes in jurisprudence at the same time to the *Colegio de Abogados de Madrid*: one of the private accusations against the unfortunate Attorney General. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The AG promptly [fell on his sword](https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/fiscal-general-garcia-ortiz-presenta-su-dimision-ministro-bolanos_6901673_0.html) and on November 25th, the (single) day when violence against women [is remembered](https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/mc/igualdad/eventos/25noviembre.html), prosecutor Teresa Peramato [was chosen](https://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/spains-judicial-authorities-unanimously-endorses-teresa-peramato-as-new-state-attorney-general) to take his place. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The word ‘*lawfare*’ might have appeared here and there in the lefty media in recent reports. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph And so, on to the next crisis: The Government has been rocked by the accusations against two of their members of Saving Something for a Rainy Day: the previous Party Organisation Secretary [José Luis Ábalos](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_%C3%81balos), and his successor in the same post [Santos Cerdán](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Cerd%C3%A1n). Ábalos is now in ‘preventative custody’ against a ‘risk of escape’, evidently having forgotten [to nip outside](https://www.thechatner.com/p/finding-the-origin-of-going-out-for) the morning before to buy a packet of smokes, more fool he. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Indeed, since Ábalos is (still) a deputy, he must be tried by the Supreme Court, which is a lot faster – they have far fewer cases – than the usual National Audience (where Cerdán, having given up his parliamentary seat, and thus his ‘*aforo*’, will one day be tried – I mean, they are [just starting now](https://archive.ph/WKzWD) on Jordi Pujol -poor chap, he’s 95- eleven years down the line!) The problem for Pedro Sánchez is that he’s lost a deputy (Ábalos, while no longer in the PSOE, had remained loyal as an independent). This puts him in an even worse space than before with [one less vote](https://www.eldebate.com/espana/20251126/gobierno-perdera-cualquier-opcion-mayoria-congreso-abalos-entra-prision-jueves_358993.html) in the Chamber – unless Junts changes its mind ([it hasn’t](https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/cataluna/2025-12-03/junts-rechaza-mano-tendida-sanchez-relacion-rora_4259272/)). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Since we last spoke, Carlos Mazón has quit his post, and a deal between the PP and Vox has [given the presidency](https://www.eldiario.es/comunitat-valenciana/perez-llorca-sera-presidente-generalitat-valenciana-apoyo-extrema-derecha_1_12775224.html) of the Valencian region to Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca (PP). Mazón, who still has his ‘*aforamiento*’ (about [250,000 people](https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20181130/aforados-espana-privilegios-5925860) in Spain enjoy this parliamentary immunity), [and most of](https://www.eldiario.es/comunitat-valenciana/pp-premia-mazon-portavocia-corts-supone-600-euros-extra-mes_1_12810941.html) his monthly income, is dancing around the current judicial enquiry into what he was doing (or not doing) that day last year when 229 of his loyal subjects were drowned. Perez Llorca in his acceptance speech said that [he regretted](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/politica/el-nuevo-president-generalitat-perez-llorca-pide-perdon-victimas-dana-nadie-estuvo-altura.html) the events following the *Dana*. "Nobody was up to the task", he said. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Over in Almería, while I was away, the president and vice-president of the provincial authority known as ‘*la diputación’*, in the hands of the PP, together with the PP mayor of Fines, [were arrested](https://www.elcorreoweb.es/sucesos/tribunales/2025/11/26/caso-pp-almeria-empresas-obras-diputacion-124113407.html), accused of corruption. ‘Pillowcases full of cash’ says [one report](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/18/caso-mascarillas-en-almeria-la-uco-cazo-al-alcalde-de-fines-sacando-119000-euros-escondidos-en-una-funda-de-almohada-cadena-ser/). They have all now been chucked out of the party. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph And this brings us to [the Sunday demonstration](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/30/thousands-rally-in-madrid-to-demand-pm-resign-over-corruption-allegations) in Madrid (to date, the *seventh* called by Feijóo), for all those who would like to see Sánchez throw in the towel and call for elections, prior, as Feijóo said [in a speech](https://www.eldiario.es/politica/feijoo-ayuso-apuntan-pedro-sanchez-koldo-cerdan-abalos-tres-conocen-carcel-falta_1_12808800.html) to the Faithful, ‘to joining his pals Koldo, Cerdán and Ábalos in the (*rather [comfortable-looking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDg7bUul7jA)*) Soto de Real prison’. /wp:paragraph wp:image {"linkDestination":"custom"} ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CKgecj6qg744H139MQ9zAIV6pG0Zw1EnmKttmm74JpIu_Av-JqodcvrEcWtChzOykgV3MaVFm4qzxPEzljyuX864Jds8qtvFDgb7KBh2cnaEg54i59rCpQ3I1yo3Q9t5wM4eRj4aufoynmt1QdbVLHtnR-5CTc1RabWC_CFTvxSJHhUiA5xGfb31Jk-F/w361-h202/Screenshot%202025-12-03%20at%2015-51-51%20Feij%C3%B3o%20a%20S%C3%A1nchez%20ante%20cerca%20de%20100.000%20personas%20R%C3%ADndase%20a%20la%20democracia.%20Espa%C3%B1a%20est%C3%A1%20preparada%20y%20yo%20estoy%20listo.jpeg) /wp:image wp:paragraph What a time [to be in the](https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-miles-personas-inundan-banderas-espana-protesta-pp-madrid-pedir-elecciones-ya-20251130120455.html) flag manufacturing business! /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The error of the PP is to continually harp [on bringing down](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/virales/un-analista-comunicacion-politicanala-error-pp-manifestacion-domingo.html) the Government (without success) which breeds frustration for their supporters rather than confidence. They might be better advised in promoting their own program – if they have one. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The PP’s likely future leader, the increasingly eccentric Isabel Díaz Ayuso was there, and she warned [in a speech](https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/ayuso-protesta-contra-sanchez-no-acostumbremos-no-normal-asi-comienzan-todas-dictaduras_6904559_0.html), about the threat from ETA – the [dead duck terror group](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuncio_del_cese_definitivo_de_la_actividad_armada_de_ETA) who handed in their guns a number of years ago. Apparently, they're [plotting something](https://www.publico.es/tremending/delirante-discurso-ayuso-manifestacion-pp-eta-preparando-asalto-pais-vasco-navarra-sostiene-pedro-sanchez.html) with Sánchez. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph So far, the leader of the Opposition hasn’t found enough support for a parliamentary motion of censure, so he appears to be putting his faith in a popular uprising. Feijóo had been trying to get support from the Junts per Catalunya people – they have seven seats in the *Cortes* – but they think it unlikely that he truly wants Carles Puigdemont, the exiled party leader, to be forgiven for trying to [remove Catalonia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaraci%C3%B3n_unilateral_de_independencia_de_Catalu%C3%B1a_de_2017) from Spanish control back in 2017. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph *The Guardian* says [that](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/30/thousands-rally-in-madrid-to-demand-pm-resign-over-corruption-allegations) ‘Felix Bolaños, Spain’s justice minister, said the PP and the far-right Vox party – which did not take part in Sunday’s demonstration – were fundamentally the same and were competing to see which could say the most outrageous things about the prime minister’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the written sentence – the full resolution – from the Supreme Court in the Attorney General case (these normally come with or before the conviction) to iron out [a few remaining doubts](https://www.eldiario.es/politica/nota-prensa-bulos-preguntas-tendra-contestar-sentencia-supremo-garcia-ortiz_1_12806268.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph … /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph I have written up the Supreme Court Vs Álvaro García Ortiz’ story in some detail [here](https://botbackup.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-attorney-general-is-canned.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Housing:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Levante** [here](https://www.levante-emv.com/economia/2025/11/23/espana-construye-700-000-pisos-problema-vivienda-124028911.html): ‘How Spain has gone from having more than enough homes to a historic deficit: 700,000 homes are needed. A lack of land, bureaucratic problems, and above all, the near-non-existence of a construction and development sector, decimated after the 2008 crisis, means that barely 100,000 homes are built in Spain each year. And the need for more housing, according to official bodies, is growing. Is it feasible to build 700,000 homes in the medium term to meet the increasing demand?’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph ‘More warning signs about the housing crisis. Property prices in Spain are 70% more inflated than the European average, as confirmed by the *European Central Bank* (ECB). This is yet another indication of the severity of the situation in the country, which has been grappling with a housing shortage for years and highlights the loss of purchasing power among families to buy homes’. **VozPópuli**reporting [here](https://www.vozpopuli.com/economia/el-bce-alerta-de-la-crisis-de-vivienda-en-espana-los-precios-estan-un-70-mas-inflados-que-en-europa.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Quoting the developer *Lucas Fox*, **La Cadena Ser** [says](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/30/los-extranjeros-dicen-adios-al-sol-y-playa-compran-a-tocateja-para-instalarse-en-espana-y-acaparan-el-60-de-las-casas-de-lujo-cadena-ser/) ‘From wealthy tourists on the coast to affluent residents in the heart of major cities, high-net-worth foreigners no longer come to Spain solely for the 'sun and sand'. Of all the luxury homes purchased in our country, 38% are primary residences, and the majority—around six out of ten—are purchased by foreign buyers…’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph *Can you afford a hotel, or will a few apartments do?* From **Property Investor Today**: ‘Hotels emerge as [a favourite Spanish property investment](https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2025/11/hotels-emerge-as-a-favourite-spanish-property-investment/). Appetite amongst investors for Iberia’s hotel sector is surging, according to research from *Savills.* The agency’s *Investor Sentiment Survey 2025*ranked Spain as the top destination for investors this year, with hotels emerging as a preferred asset class, up 21% compared to previous year. *Savills* attributes this momentum to Spain’s consistent outperformance of the wider Eurozone, underpinned by strong tourism, resilient hotel operations and a robust economic outlook...’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **elDiario.es** [here](https://www.eldiario.es/economia/hogares-espanoles-deberan-invertir-30-000-millones-rehabilitar-viviendas-2030_1_12801399.html): ‘Spanish households will need to invest around €30,000 million to renovate their homes by 2030. The Ministry of Housing has launched a public consultation on the new *National Building Renovation Plan*, which aims to reduce household energy consumption by 25%, potentially saving families up to 60% on their energy bills’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Idealista** has some towns we’ve never heard of in [this article](https://www.idealista.com/en/news/property-for-sale-in-spain/2025/11/25/873597-where-house-prices-are-falling-fastest-in-spain-the-top-10-municipalities): ‘Where house prices are falling fastest in Spain: the top 10 municipalities’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Xataca** has [an interesting piece](https://www.xataka.com/magnet/buscar-piso-era-infierno-imagenes-hechas-ia-han-llegado-para-hacerlo-peor) on selling homes – what about if the photos of the property have been goosed by Artificial Intelligence to make the place look a bit nicer? It happens. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Meet Fernando, the only inhabitant of Benamira, a village in Soria. **20Minutos** is [here](https://www.20minutos.es/castilla-y-leon/soria/espana-vaciada-unipersonal-asi-es-vida-fernando-un-pueblo-que-solo-le-tiene-como-vecino_6900980_0.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **The Olive Press** [here](https://archive.ph/b5pfx): ‘Life could be about to get a lot less headachy for expats and prospective expats in Spain after the government announced it is rolling out a major – and very welcome – reform of its residency and immigration system. The changes now being phased in, expected to be fully implemented in 2026, will directly affect anyone applying to live or work in the country…’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Tourism:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The **Majorca Daily Bulletin**[here](https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2025/11/24/138315/don-overstay-your-welcome-spain-you-could-fined-000-euros.html): ‘Don't overstay your welcome in Spain as you could be fined 10,000 euros. The EU exit and entrance system has made it very difficult to flout the ninety-day rule’. **The Olive Press** [notes](https://archive.ph/m2i0l) that those who are non-EU residents in Spain should go through the EU passport control with their passport and *TIE*and not the *EES* line. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The **Majorca Daily Bulletin** [brings us](https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2025/12/01/138519/massive-drop-crime-top-tourist-municipality-brits-confirmed-number-holiday-market.html) ‘A massive drop in crime in top tourist municipality as Brits confirmed as Number 1 holiday market. More hotels open in the winter as Magaluf makes a big comeback’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Idealista**[has](https://www.idealista.com/en/news/lifestyle-in-spain/2025/11/24/873541-un-best-tourism-villages-in-spain-two-2025-winners): ‘The UN’s Best Tourism Villages in Spain: two 2025 winners. Discover how Spain made the UN’s 2025 list with two standout villages. To save you looking, they are Agaete (Gran Canaria) and Ezcaray (La Rioja). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Finance:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The Council of Ministers approved defence contracts worth €5,910 million in a single day. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The government of Pedro Sánchez, in its meeting on November 18, gave the green light to 13 military contracts totalling almost €6,000 million says **Diario-Red** [here](https://www.diario-red.com/articulo/espana/consejo-ministros-aprobo-solo-dia-contratos-defensa-valor-5910-millones-euros/20251126190148058934.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph [Pensions will rise](https://www.eldiario.es/economia/pensiones-subiran-2-7-2026_1_12804026.html) by 2.7% in 2026. This is the forecast based on the provisional November *CPI data*, which shows an average inflation rate of 2.7% over the past year. It remains to be seen how much minimum and non-contributory pensions will increase. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The **Ministerio de Trabajo** [says that](https://prensa.mites.gob.es/webPrensa/listado-noticia/noticia/4491) ‘Unemployment fell by 18,805 people in November, reaching 2,424,961, a 6.23% decrease over the same month of the previous year’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Financial Post** (Canada) [here](https://financialpost.com/real-estate/property-post/amancio-ortega-spanish-billionaire-buying-canadian-office-towers): ‘Who is Amancio Ortega and how did he make his money?’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Politics:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Spain English** [here](https://www.spainenglish.com/2025/12/02/pm-sanchez-moves-to-break-deadlock-with-catalan-jxcat-party-via-fast-track-decree-law): ‘Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday unveiled a new set of initiatives designed to unblock negotiations with the Catalan pro-independence party Junts per Catalunya. The coalition government plans to push through a decree law containing a series of commitments already agreed with Junts but still awaiting implementation’. Among them are reforms to local government financing, measures to aid landlords dealing with unpaid rent and so on. **20Minutos** [here](https://www.20minutos.es/cataluna/junts-reprocha-gobierno-incumplir-los-acuerdos-tras-acercamiento-sanchez-no-es-que-no-podian-es-que-no-querian_6905879_0.html) reported on Wednesday, that Junts said that they weren’t changing their mind regarding their withdrawal of support. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **The Guardian** [here](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/27/inside-the-rise-and-fall-of-podemos-we-believed-we-had-a-stake-in-the-future): ‘Inside the rise and fall of Podemos: ‘We believed we had a stake in the future’. The leftist party exploded out of Spain’s anti-austerity protests in 2011 and upended Spain’s entrenched two-party system’. But what went wrong? /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Cadena Ser** [here](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/30/vox-integra-en-su-sindicato-a-miembros-del-partido-neonazi-hacer-nacion-cadena-ser/): ‘Vox integrates members of the neo-Nazi party ‘Hacer Nación’ into its union. Hacer Nación, a party that promotes the ethnic cleansing of non-white migrants, has deactivated its website and deleted its main social media accounts’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Europe:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **The Guardian** [here](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/29/the-week-europe-realised-it-stands-alone-against-russian-expansionism): ‘The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism. Washington’s Putin-appeasing plan for peace in Ukraine has failed, but many heard the death knell sounded for European reliance on US protection’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **El Mundo Deportivo** [is aghast](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/actualidad/20251128/1002577363/reino-unido-cambia-normas-partir-espanoles-podran-viajar-territorio-britanico-permiso-previo-expreso-dct.html): ‘The UK changes its rules: Spaniards will no longer be able to travel to the UK without prior express permission. The British government, through its new *ETA* system, introduces a requirement for all travellers to the country’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Health:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph ‘The overcrowding of the public healthcare system is not a mistake: it's a model that benefits the private sector. The deterioration of primary care and the revolving door between the public and private sectors are transforming public healthcare into an increasingly privatized system’. We read at **Robando tu Tiempo** [here](https://robandotutiempo.substack.com/p/la-saturacion-de-la-sanidad-publica) that ‘For years, the official narrative has repeated that the saturation of primary care is an inevitable consequence: there is a shortage of doctors, a shortage of resources, and a shortage of staff to care for an increasingly aging population. However, when one observes the pattern that is repeated in Galicia, Madrid, Andalucía, and other autonomous communities, the question is no longer whether the problem is accidental, but whether it is induced...’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph ‘In privately managed public hospitals’, says **El País**[here](https://archive.ph/RiwX1#selection-471.0-475.240), ‘every euro not spent on patients is an extra euro for the company. The *Ribera healthcare group* intends to exploit this system at the Torrejón de Ardoz Hospital, a public hospital in Madrid managed by the company. The group's CEO has ordered the lengthening of waiting lists by performing fewer procedures and rejecting unprofitable patients or processes to increase profits…’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Corruption:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph *Black Friday* deals – as we suspected – aren’t always ‘deals’. They put the price up a few days before, then they drop them for the special offer. **Infobae** names the cheats [here](https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/11/28/mediamarkt-y-carrefour-entre-las-siete-grandes-empresas-multadas-con-350000-euros-por-el-gobierno-por-falsas-rebajas-en-el-black-friday). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph The Almería corruption case against the leaders of the *diputación*and others is growing. From **El Periódico** [here](https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20251126/caso-pp-almeria-empresas-obras-diputacion-124129709): ‘The corruption investigation in Almería involves nearly 20 companies and five public works projects by the Provincial Council. The judge's ruling states that "the awarding of the medical supplies contract was not an isolated incident, but rather an opportunity created within an alleged illicit system for awarding public contracts." /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Cadena Ser** [here](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/22/el-grupo-de-narcos-que-precipito-la-investigacion-del-caso-mascarillas-en-almeria-tenia-guardias-civiles-a-sueldo-cadena-ser/), ‘The drug trafficking group that triggered the investigation into the face mask case in Almería had Guardia Civil officers on its payroll. The *UCO*(Central Operative Unit of the Guardia Civil) discovered that a Guardia officer at the Port of Barcelona received payments of €20,000 for helping them smuggle drugs’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **El Plural** [wonders why](https://www.elplural.com/politica/espana/uco-admite-no-ha-investigado-novio-ayuso-culpa-lentitud-justicia_365763102) the investigation into ‘the boyfriend of Isabel Díaz Ayuso goes so slowly (*one can only pity the judge stuck with this investigation*). It says that the *UCO* has been lax in its investigation into Alberto González Amador. Six months have passed since the order came through. A spokesperson says that ‘…they admit that they have not yet begun the investigation to determine whether, in addition to tax fraud and document forgery, González Amador may have engaged in corruption in his business dealings. The justification, of course, does not tarnish the Guardia Civil's reputation (*says the article*); instead, they pass the buck and blame the delay on the Justice system’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Público** [here](https://www.publico.es/tremending/pareja-ayuso-compra-atico-edificio-viven-sienten-necesidad-disimular-poco.html): "They've ruined my life. I've spent so much on this... [...] What might happen is, either I leave Spain or I commit suicide..." These are the words of Isabel Díaz Ayuso's partner during the trial of the Attorney General. In the end, what he did instead was to buy the penthouse in the same building where he lives in another apartment with the Madrid president, according to several media outlets’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Público** asks in [an opinion piece](https://www.publico.es/opinion/columnas/cristobal-montoro.html) ‘Whatever happened to Cristóbal Montoro?’ Not much apparently. We read ‘The former finance minister under José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy sold government decisions to private multinationals. According to the Court, companies belonging to *the Association of Manufacturers of Industrial and Medical Gases* paid Montoro's law firm to ensure the Council of Ministers approved tailor-made tax cuts. Buying off an entire Council of Ministers without it looking like bribery: now that's poetry…’ **Wiki** [reminds us](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crist%C3%B3bal_Montoro) that ‘On July 16, 2025, he was charged with the alleged crimes of bribery, fraud against the Public Administration, prevarication, influence peddling, corruption in business, falsification of documents and prohibited negotiations’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph A deal where one was invited to invest in *Juicy Fields* – a legal marijuana outfit – ended in tears for many investors. From **elDiario.es** [here](https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/espias-rusos-empleados-wagner-dinero-estafa-juicy-fields-acabo-fabrica-drones-kremlin_1_12794600.html): ‘Russian spies and Wagner employees: *Juicy Fields* scam money ended up in a Kremlin drone factory. The alleged ringleader of the cannabis pyramid scheme told the judge that hundreds of millions of euros stolen were used to produce drones for Putin's government’. 645 million euros went missing apparently. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph A nice email from *Iberia* says that some scammers got into their system but wouldn’t have gathered anything more from the airline’s customer base than names and maybe emails. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Courts:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Cadena Ser** [here](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/26/uno-de-los-magistrados-que-ha-condenado-al-fiscal-general-dirigio-la-tesis-del-abogado-del-novio-de-ayuso-cadena-ser/): ‘One of the judges who convicted the Attorney General directed the thesis of the lawyer for Ayuso's boyfriend. Antonio del Moral was also part of the panel that accepted the reasoned statement to open the investigation against Álvaro García Ortiz’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Media:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph ‘The French newspaper *Les Echos*, France's leading business daily, has published an article analysing the anomaly Spain is experiencing after three years without a state budget. We read: "On autopilot: without a budget for three years, Spain is doing wonderfully”, says the headline of the article, which analyses how the country, despite not having approved its accounts, is registering "solid growth and progress towards rebalancing public finances."’. **El Huff Post** has more [here](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/economia/el-principal-periodico-economico-francia-atonito-pasa-espana-genova-13-empezar-mal-finde.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **El Plural** [here](https://www.elplural.com/politica/espana/manual-derecha-acabar-democracia-control-policial-mediatico-judicial_365773102): ‘The right wing's strategy to seize power, or rather, to overthrow any power that doesn't align with its interests, operates on several fronts. The methodology employed by the political, media, and judicial right in this regard has been on full display on numerous occasions, one of the most recent being the Supreme Court's conviction of the Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, for revealing secrets. Its reach is extensive, and it is important to understand it…’ We look at the activities of *La Policía Patriótica* and the *UCO; institutional advertising*to the approved media; endless right-wing *bulos* in social media; and of course, the use of *lawfare*… /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph On a similar subject, El Gran Wyoming ([wiki](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Gran_Wyoming)) spoke on receiving the *Premio Ondas* prize, saying ‘As a citizen, I demand the right to truthful information. You must fight against the enemies of freedom’. He added: ‘"I have never seen the democratic system so threatened," he said, because "people responsible for the media, under the hypocritical guise of pluralism and freedom of expression, give space to misinformation spreaders who occupy the field of information to spread falsehoods."’. The story, with video, at **LaSexta**[here](https://www.lasexta.com/programas/el-intermedio/wyoming-recibe-ondas-mejor-comunicador-carga-supremo-donde-dado-alas-mentira-extrema_20251126692779906e5e5012dccf7330.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Catalunya Press** [here](https://www.catalunyapress.es/articulo/sociedad/2025-12-01/5689312-video-ernesto-ekaizer-describe-plan-ayuso-esta-creando-clima-prerevolucionario-preguerracivilista): ‘Ernesto Ekaizer describes Ayuso's plan: “She is creating a pre-revolutionary, pre-civil war climate”. The veteran journalist accuses Ayuso of generating political and social tension while warning of the use of media accusations to fuel an “endless noise” strategy’. *With video*. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Sur in English** [brings us](https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/the-king-emeritus-french-television-pinochet-told-20251127121516-nt.html) ‘Spain's king emeritus for French television: 'Pinochet told me to do as Franco did, but I did the opposite'. Juan Carlos I speaks about his memoir ‘*Reconciliación*’ in an interview for public channel *France 3*, without much of a hint of criticism towards the infidelities and scandals that marked his reign’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **The Independent** [here](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-britain-expat-emigrate-visa-migration-b2869085.html): ‘I never looked back’: Readers on why Britons are choosing life abroad after Brexit. Our community has shared their own stories of leaving the UK, citing high taxes, poor services, and a hostile society, with most planning to settle abroad permanently’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Ecology:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **À Punt Media** [here](https://www.apuntmedia.es/noticies/societat/video-79-6-territori-valencia-ja-proces-desertificacio_1_1831316.html) (*article in Valenciano*): ‘79.6% of the Valencian territory is in the process of desertification. Alicante concentrates the most critical situation, with 98.9% of its territory, while Castellón is the least affected province’ (*with video*). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Various:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From ruin to riches with a 1,200 million business: this is how two retired Galician *guardia civiles* invented the mandatory V-16 beacon (the emergency beacon you will have to carry in your car from next month). The story at **El Mundo** [here](https://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2025/11/24/6920b05f21efa044798b45b0.html). /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **El País** with population facts [here](https://archive.ph/SCEdK): ‘Life expectancy in Spain surpasses 84 years for the first time. Last year, 318,005 babies were born, the lowest number in over 80 years of records’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Cocoa prices are rising, and [the tricks are starting](https://www.eldiario.es/consumoclaro/tu-mejor-yo/precio-cacao-sube-empiezan-trampas-lleva-chocolate-compras-supermercado_1_12731332.html): what's in the chocolate you buy at the supermarket? The price of raw chocolate has increased in recent years, and supermarkets are now offering products with less cocoa and more sugar and cheap fats. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **LaSexta** [here](https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/sociedad/desarticulan-primera-celula-terrorista-vinculada-grupo-neonazi-the-base-espana_20251201692d68ee9261f37ec737a2f6.html): The first terrorist cell linked to the neo-Nazi group 'The Base' dismantled in Spain with three arrests (in Castellón). Why is this important? The terrorist cell had expressed its "willingness to carry out attacks," targeting specific targets with the aim of collapsing Western democratic institutions’. From **elDiario.es** [here](https://www.eldiario.es/politica/the-base-organizacion-terrorista-neonazi-planea-atentados-eeuu-espana-ucrania_1_12810299.html): ‘What is 'The Base', the neo-Nazi terrorist organization planning attacks in the US, Spain, and Ukraine? Led by an American with military training who lives in St. Petersburg (Russia), the neo-Nazi group operates primarily on social media, where, in addition to spreading its propaganda, it seeks to recruit new members from among young people with the aim of creating new terrorist cells…’ **Cadena Ser** [has](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/12/02/el-inspector-que-ha-dirigido-la-operacion-contra-la-primera-celula-terrorista-de-the-base-en-espana-es-peligrosa-porque-abrazan-la-teoria-mas-extrema-del-supremacismo-blanco-cadena-ser/?outputType=amp): ‘The inspector who led the operation against the first 'The Base' terrorist cell in Spain: "It's dangerous because they embrace the most extreme theory of white supremacy."’. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph From **Público** [here](https://www.publico.es/sociedad/agua-fruta-trabajadores-consumidores-britanicos-avergueenzan-alcalde-nijar.html): ‘Water is only for the fruit, but not for the workers: the British *NGO* [Ethical Consumer](https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/) is calling for an end to the water supply problems in the shacks of Níjar (Almería) where some 500 greenhouse workers live, the largest settlement in the province. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that buys the most produce from Almería's agricultural sector’. An open letter to the Mayor of Níjar[here](https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethical-campaigns-boycotts/open-letter-mayor-nijar) says: ‘…The workers of the trade union *SOC SAT Almeria* have informed us that the Níjar town council has dramatically reduced the amount of water that can be accessed by residents in the settlement of Atochares. Two taps, which were installed using the funds we raised, have been disconnected, leaving residents reliant on a single tap which is much further away. We understand that access to water from the one remaining tap has been severely reduced meaning people can access just a fraction of the water they used to access from this tap which now has very long queues...’ /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Taken from **Ireland XO** [here](https://irelandxo.com/ireland/derry-0/news/robert-boyd-local-hero-and-freedom-fighter-malaga-spain): Robert Boyd, a local hero and Freedom Fighter in Málaga, Spain. The story of an Irish Freedom fighter in Málaga and his links to Spain's first Protestant cemetery is a fascinating read. Boyd was a wealthy Protestant soldier who returned to Derry in 1829 after fighting in Greece against the Ottomans. There he met General Torrijos, who was raising money for a rebellion against King Ferdinand VII of Spain. He quit his role as a lieutenant and used money he inherited following the death of his father to provide financial backing to the revolutionaries. In 1831 Boyd bought a ship and set sail for Málaga with Torrijos and some 60 followers. They were forced ashore by Spanish ships and hid in the hills but were soon rounded up by troops and sentenced to execution. Robert wrote a last letter to his brother William, stating he would ‘die like a gentleman and a soldier.’ Boyd was marched to the beach with 48 of his fellow prisoners on 11 December and executed by firing squad. There’s a famous picture of [the execution](https://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/obra-de-arte/fusilamiento-de-torrijos-y-sus-compaeros-en-las/cc128630-425b-4752-a805-008d26556bbb) at the Prado museum by Antonio Gisbert. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **See Spain:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph It may not be the best time to go travelling in Spain – it’s cold for one thing, and for another, it’s Christmas (which lasts here for at least two months). The commercial spirit in Spain’s town halls, toys and souvenir shops, its bars and restaurants, its churches and its streets, means lights, plastic Santas and those ubiquitous *villancicos* songs. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **The Olive Press** recommends five places to visit [here](https://archive.ph/DlxJF). One of them is Albarracín in Teruel (surely the coldest winter in all of Spain). The others are Consuegra (Toledo), Salamanca, Mérida and Frigiliana. All beautiful and worth the visit but check the weather first. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **…****...** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph **Finally:** /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph A Havana Jazz playlist from **YouTube** [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muDkhs7SbGM). --- *Contenido creado y optimizado para IA con [Medios CMS](https://medios.io)* — Plataforma profesional para la gestión de medios digitales y portales de noticias.