Podemos, the recently formed anti-austerity and anti-elite group, with a tiny campaign budget, won more than 1m votes in Spain The disturbing advance by the far-right in Britain, France and Denmark in this week's European elections has been linked to a reaction against established politics . Specifically, it is against two political convergences by the mainstream left and right. First, over neoliberal...
Autonomous Spanish city, a piece of European territory in north Africa, is becoming popular target for asylum seekers More than 1,000 sub-Saharan migrants rushed the six-metre razor-wire fence that marks the border of Spain's North African enclave of Melilla early on Wednesday morning, with some 400 managing to make it over the towering fence, yelling with joy as they touched Spanish soil. "There...
Barely 100 days old, party born from indignados movement now has five MEPs and determination to change political landscape Until recently, it appeared that the Spanish indignados movement had fizzled out. But on Sunday evening, a fledgling party born from its ashes proved otherwise, winning five seats and 1.2 million votes in Spain's European elections. Barely 100 days old, and lead by Pablo Iglesias,...
Which nations bucked the trend in the Euro elections and surged towards leftwing parties? The headline gains were for nationalist and Eurosceptic parties witness all those pictures of "evil" Nigel Farage smiling into his pint glass, or of Marine Le Pen, whose Front National party triumphed in France , throwing back her head and cackling. But some member nations bucked the trend in the Euro...
A Brussels dinner brings together the walking wounded from an election that has reshaped the politics of at least four nations Prime ministers, presidents, and chancellors from across Europe are to dine in Brussels on Tuesday evening, and digest the verdict from their respective disenchanted voters. Many will arrive as walking wounded, their credibility battered, their reputations bruised, their policies...
Governing party's president says narrow win is 'great news' with two main parties losing major ground in European vote The People's party of Spain narrowly beat out the Socialists in the European elections, but with smaller insurgent parties winning two out of every five votes the Spanish media dubbed the result a "punishment" for Spain's two dominant political parties. Continue reading......
A mayor's quest to change his village's name could help to alter attitudes in the country as a whole At 4pm on Friday, it's eerily quiet in this tiny village. The blinds on the stone houses are drawn and there's not a person to be seen wandering the few streets that make up Castrillo Matajudíos. It's a sharp contrast to the noisy, relentless chatter about the place in the outside world. Ever...
Whether they are travelling to Lisbon or watching in the Spanish capital, Madrileños are getting ready for a unique occasion Billboard-sized posters featuring the jerseys of Real Madrid and Atlético look down on Madrids emblematic Puerta del Sol square. Half a mile away, Madrid city hall is festooned with another set of banners proclaiming Madrid the Capital of Football. They are a reminder...
Debate among health experts switches to regulation of cannabis as drug policy in US, Uruguay and Spain flouts UN conventions Legalisation of cannabis is making slow but unstoppable progress across much of the developed world, many experts believe, following the end of prohibition in two US states. In Amsterdam, long famous for its coffee shops, identifiable by pictures of marijuana outside and fumes...
Key countries in which UN conventions prohibiting the use, possession and supply of cannabis are being increasingly flouted, or strictly observed Continue reading... ...
Suspension is first in 35 years after two bulls turn tables on all three matadors on programme, leaving one with serious injuries Half-tonne fighting bulls gored or trampled all three matadors in an extraordinary upset at Madrid's prestigious Las Ventas bullring, forcing the spectacle to be cancelled. For the first time in 35 years, the San Isidro festival, which opens the bullfighting season in Spain,...
Miguel Arias Cañete, a People's party candidate for European parliament, said he was worried about 'cornering a defenceless woman' With a week to go until the European elections, Spain's top People's party candidate is at the centre of a sexism row after saying that he was forced to hold back in a debate because his opponent was female. Asked during a TV interview to rate his performance in Thursday's...
When Real Madrid meet Atlético in the Champions League final on Saturday, it will be more than just a historic derby, but a rivalry about power and wealth in 21st-century Spain Cheeks flushed with excitement, they began crowding the roundabout only minutes after the game. They squeezed in next to Neptune, god of the sea, drowning the statue out in a sea of red and white, giving thanks for the 3-1 win...
Santiago Calatrava awarded 30,000 in damages over site highlighting problems with City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia A judge in Valencia has ordered a political party to pay 30,000 (£24,400) in damages to the celebrated architect Santiago Calatrava over a website its members created to highlight the flaws and cost overruns in various projects he designed. Calatrava took the Valencia branch...
55-year-old is said to have told police she planned attack as revenge after daughter lost job at León provincial council A woman arrested on Monday by Spanish police has confessed to killing the politician Isabel Carrasco , telling investigators she had held a grudge against the leader of the León provincial government since her daughter lost her job at the council in 2011, local newspapers...
Mario Costeja González says search engine 'is now perfect' as it can police data affecting 'people's honour and dignity' A Spanish man who has spent the past five years waging a legal battle against Google over the "right to be forgotten" on the internet has applauded a landmark European Court ruling against Google on Tuesday. "Like anyone would be when you tell them they're right, I'm...
If we have learned one thing from the last four years, it is that the European Union lacks the capacity to act decisively, writes Barry Eichengreen This month marks the fourth anniversary of the May 2010 financial rescue of Greece . Previously, the idea that a eurozone member would seek emergency assistance from the International Monetary Fund, along with the European Commission and the European Central...
Head of the provincial government in Léon was gunned down in broad daylight as she walked from home to party headquarters A prominent politician from Spain's governing People's party was shot and killed on Monday afternoon as she was crossing a footbridge over the Bernesga river in the northern Spanish city of León. Isabel Carrasco, 59, who led the provincial government in León, was shot...
Maria Sharapova recovers from a poor start to beat Simona Halep in the Madrid Open final. The eighth seed makes a sluggish start to the match, with Halep taking a double break immediately. But Sharapova bounces back in the second set and goes on to win 1-6 6-2 6-3 Continue reading... ...
A Spanish classic, from the couple behind Moro restaurant and their new cookbook, Morito Sam and Sam Clark's chicharrones de Cádiz recipe Sam and Sam Clark's cooks' trip to Barcelona video Red peppers add sweetness and colour to a tortilla. Perfect with a glass of fino sherry. Continue reading... ...