MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Spain with no relief: record unemployment and soaring national debt
Spain says its national debt will spiral sharply higher this year as data showed unemployment hit a record high in March, complicating efforts to stabilise the country's strained finances. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSpain, you were warned, and did you listen? Instead you wined and dined the argies like you did with those argtards who tried to blow up british ships during the falklands war. Now you're just going to suffer.
Apr 04th, 2012 - 07:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0@1 GreekYoghurt
Apr 04th, 2012 - 11:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0On the other hand, they still have British tourism, British retirees and fugitive British criminals to fund their economy. Imagine if that dried up .. they'd be screwed in 5 seconds flat.
@2 You're not wrong. Considering the love for all things Spanish that people have in the UK, it makes you wonder why they'd be keen to furk it all up will Gibraltar-based chat. Surely having strong close relationships is what you want at this time.
Apr 04th, 2012 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Greece is similar, even after defaulting it's still going to be doing fine because of the huge amount of British holiday makers spending all their money on meagre accommodation, cheap local booze and beach-nonsense.
@2 Having been to Gibraltar on a number of occasions it is plainly obvious to see that both Spain and Gibraltar benefit enormously from employment and tourism opportunities over the two borders. There is a great rush into Gibraltar from Spain in the morning by workers and an equally busy exodus in the late afternoon.
Apr 04th, 2012 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Viva la difference.
Viva Gibraltar
Spain has been in worse situations than this!!! they shall overcome.
Apr 04th, 2012 - 03:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@4 Brit Bob
Apr 04th, 2012 - 05:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think you were probably confusing the Spanish tobacco smugglers with 'workers' ;)
2 Skare
Apr 05th, 2012 - 02:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0“I think you were probably confusing the Spanish tobacco smugglers with 'workers' ;)”
Yet another oversimplification expounded by one who, I presume, isn’t aware of the FACTS of the matter! Some Gibraltarians and others of the many foreign residents of the place, are JUST as capable of smuggling tobacco, drugs and what-have-you.
I lived in Gibraltar during a large part of Franco’s “internationally supported”, bullying blockade of that tiny, British enclave.
Basically, the Gibraltarians and their Spanish neighbours are bound together by centuries’ old ties –including intermarriage. And in common with all close-knit families who habitually live in each others’ pockets, they occasionally argue – sometimes, quite heatedly. However, if these same people feel threatened by an outside force, they tend to show a surprising solidarity –that’s to say: to exhibit the typically Spanish, “No nos toques los cojones!” syndrome.
Skare: when are you and others of your ilk, going to realise that NOT only YOU, but EVERYONE else has EMOTIONS! And that NO ONE responds favourably to insults and abuse?
Jim, in Madrid.
2 Skåre
Apr 05th, 2012 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We decided on Urugay for our retirement because it was obvious that you could not trust anyone to sell you a house in Spain without having to worry whether it was really yours when you had paid for it.
Several of our friends who went to live in Spain have had to go back to the UK because the Euro cock-up has done for them. Their Spanish houses are up for sale with about as much chance of a buyer as CFK has of a shag.
7 JimHandley
I think you meant to say of the Spanish 'we have NO balls'. The Spanish never have had any when it came to difficulties. Plenty of fancy uniforms, no backbone.
At least they can make beutiful shotguns.
@8 if you had used a solicitor to buy like all the rest of foreigners did you would not have lost your house. Those days of the powerful pound have gone it is best to stay in wet/cold England.
Apr 05th, 2012 - 04:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 09 aussie sunshine
Apr 05th, 2012 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You really do not know about anything you post do you?
Most of the problems with corrupt house sales in Spain came about because of concert parties between the local Mayor and his tame solicitor.
There are / were 37,000 families who are under notice of investigation by the Spanish government because of this, including some international celebrities who, by their very nature ONLY deal through top-flight professionals.
You are a cretin of the highest order, found out when you are getting into Aus yet? NO? I wonder why that is. Ha, ha, ha.
@get a solicitor like you do when you are in Britain!!
Apr 05th, 2012 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That way you won´t get fooled in Spain!!
Just common sense, mate! and be happy like the rest of 4 million
foreign nationals who have brought their property in Spain.
8 ChrisR
Apr 05th, 2012 - 07:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re:
I think you meant to say of the Spanish 'we have NO balls'. The Spanish never have had any when it came to difficulties. Plenty of fancy uniforms, no backbone
No. I meant, that when a social group perceives an “external” threat –imaginary or not– its members tend to band defensively band together to oppose the “presumed” aggressor. This well-known phenomenon is not new. It has –and still is being– at this very moment, exploited by devious politicians worlwide. The invasion of the Falklands is a signal example of a failing government’s desperate effort to exculpate its unjust excesses and mitigate its fiscal incompetence, by singling out a FOREIGN, sacrificial scapegoat!
The “house value crisis” in Spain, the UK, the US and other countries, was caused by Multinational Banks, who greedily manipulated the public’s gullibility, in order to artificially inflate property prices. Here in Spain, the influx of so many sun seekers from less clement climes exacerbated the problem. Furthermore –in the high rolling days– British Banks and property developers pocketed lots of pesetas, too...
So please don’t blame the Spaniards for ALL the evils in the world and do kindly try to moderate your ill-considered, ugly invective and downright insults toward those foreigners whom you obviously consider “inferior beings”.
You’re the kind of fellow who –in comparison– makes our football hooligans look like girl guides. You make me ashamed to be a Briton!
2 Skare
Thanks for:
We decided on Uruguay for our retirement because it was obvious that you could not trust anyone to sell you a house in Spain....
I wish you happiness in Uruguay. But when you arrive, be careful not to badmouth the Spaniards ‘cos the place was founded by Canary Islanders (lovable, gentle people) and most of its present inhabitants are direct descendents of the original settlers –with the odd Basque, Castilian, Catalán and others, added to the mixture, of course.
Jim, in Madrid.
12 JimHandley
Apr 05th, 2012 - 09:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thank you so much for your uninformed view of my personal attributes.
I was not blaming Spain per se for the corruption in selling 'houses' on green belt land by Mayors and obragados and I am amazed that given your background you appear not to know anything about this!
May I suggest you either 'chill out' to use an ugly modern term or do not bother looking at this website as you appear far too sensitive if you consider me to be someone who 'makes our football hooligans look like girl guides. You make me ashamed to be a Briton!'
How condescending of you.
BTW I do not recognise the Uruguay that you describe, nor does it match the history of the country that appears on government and other sites.
Furthermore I need no lessons from you on my behaviour: if I were you I would start dealing with your 'Spanish relatives' in Argentina: if you dare.
@12 good top see that there are still decent and educated British nationals around. I thought you were an extinct lot! :)
Apr 05th, 2012 - 09:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0To: 13 ChrisR
Apr 05th, 2012 - 11:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re:
“I was not blaming Spain per se for the corruption in selling 'houses' on green belt land”, etcetera.
BUT YOU DID EXACTLY SO, MATE!
Verbatim, YOUR own previous, message states:
“We decided on Urugay for our retirement because it was obvious that you could not trust ANYONE to sell you a house in Spain without having to worry whether it was really yours when you had paid for it. Plenty of fancy uniforms, no backbone”.
Regarding Uruguay’s origin, you’d do well to read some RIGOROUS History; unless, God forbid the thought– you’ve tried to bullshit me, of course.
In any event, it seems that my military training in “clandestine tactics” has stood me in good stead and enabled me to lure you into an emotional trap. For given your almost hysterical reaction to my covert taunting, it appears you now have at least an inkling of how it feels be an innocent victim of public denigration. But in this case, YOU are the guilty party!
So, if I may be so presumptuous as to offer you some friendly advice, Lad –before opening your big mouth, do try to be at least ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PER CENT sure of the FACTS!
By the way, when you get to Montevideo, take the relatively short journey across the River Plate, to Buenos Aires, enjoy some tango and soak up a few local FACTS, too.
Jim, in Madrid.
15 JimHandley (Jaime?)
Apr 06th, 2012 - 11:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Calm down dear.
So it was covert taunting, not pseudo-Spanish histrionics that you were carrying out 'clandestinely' when you 'taunted' me was it?
All I can comment is that perhaps it's as well you left whatever military outfit you were in, as its clandestine operations would clearly have been at risk from your uncontrollable temper, as demonstrated on here.
BTW, there is no such percentage as 150% in normal (forward looking) arithmetic.
So you have still to acknowledge that many hundreds of 'foreigners' in Spain have been duped into buying property that:
1) was never for sale by the legal owner but 'sold' anyway;
2) green belt 'building' plots sold when of course it is illegal to build;
3) houses built on plots at 2) have been confiscated, retroactive 'planning permission granted' and sold.
I have forgotten how many Mayors are under governmental investigation over this and indeed how many have actually been jailed but the numbers are significant: see the 'British Ex-Pat' site for current details. There are many, many, thousands of 'foreigners' who KNOW there is a problem with their title but are waiting to find out what will happen.
AND YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN THE MOST FAMOUS CASE IN SPAIN: a retired couple spent a lot of money on a 'building' plot overlooking the sea, built a very substantial property on it only to discover after three years or so that it was all a con by the local Mayor (now jailed together with the 'solicitor') and the government came along and demolished it. They now (as a concession) live in a tiny caravan on the site and are waiting for compensation from the new Mayor. It will take 10 to 15 years they have been told but have little money to live on following legal fees. They are both approaching seventy. They are convinced they will both be dead before anything is settled. PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS!
It seems to me that you post like a 'clandestine' Argie, albeit a literate one.
So, LAD, goodbye.
Chris
Apr 06th, 2012 - 09:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You really have one heck of a selective outrage. You uttered vituperative vitriol at the entirety of Spain for the shady real state business of a few, hmm... this zealous and quite frankly xenophobic over-simplification of a nationality seem so familiar.
That's why you are not worthy of respect. But also, how come you seem the least bit intellectually honest in saying it was US and British human beings who also had massive involvement in a real estate “bicicleta financiera” (look it up), that pretty much collapsed your entire economies and that of others too.
How selective, your outrage.
17 tobias
Apr 07th, 2012 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0You are letting your LatAm hysteria get in the way of the facts.
The problem in Spain that I am referring to HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRICE / COST OF THE PROPERTY, and therefore NOTHING to do with the bankers.
It is all about the corruption of the Mayors and certain abrogadas within the popular settlement belt of southern Spain. The problem is endenmic and as I have said effects many thousands of people, Brits, Germans, etc. who have already purchased property and have been living in it for some time. These people are now very afraid they are going to lose their property, even though THEY did everything 'to the book'.
AND, whether you like it or not, anyone buying a house in the 'belt' would have to be stupid to do so under the present cicumstances. Also, whether you like it or not the problem has only been that of this region, not France, even Italy is immune as far as I could tell when I checked around Caserta in South Italy.
Have I got the point over now Tobias? BTW 'worthy of respect' is a bit oxymoronic coming from you. You used to be level headed, why the hysteria of late?
16 ChrisR
Apr 07th, 2012 - 02:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re:
All I can comment is that perhaps it's as well you left whatever military outfit you were in, as its clandestine operations would clearly have been at risk from your uncontrollable temper, as demonstrated on here. Et al...
In matters of military strategy and tactics, I’m by no means the poor man’s Lord Wellington. But I DO have a few holes in my decrepit old frame, the acquisition of which is attested by my tenure of some medals (including one awarded by the UNITED Nations!). So why don’t you show me you BIG WILLY, too?
And, if you think that my emotional composure is in the least influenced by the inane declarations of an unfortunate fool, I’m afraid I must disabuse you of your deluded presumption. On the contrary, I’m beginning to feel a genuine sense of pity for you. Almost as naive a suckling babe, you’re so easy to deceive, that I now feel guilty for having treated you so “shamelessly”.
PLEASE DON’T BOTHER TO REPLY, MATE! ‘cos I surrender to your overwhelmingly superior forces. It’s yet another devastating victory of those old allies, BIGOTRY and IGNORANCE, over the ineffective undisciplined, rebellious traitors, financed by the sinister interests of REASON and MODERATION!!!!!!
Jim.
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