Spain Update –28M Elections & more –18th May 2023

th of May: 2023

The most politically polarized San Isidro festivities of the last few years.

Isidro Labrador, this month.: 2023

On Monday the 15th, Sant Isidro feast day was marked this year with the usual parades, family picnics, and the Chulapo" or "Chulapa" regional dresses of the day, originating from the Malasaña neighborhood in the 19th century. However, it was also accompanied by various protests, insults, and celebrations as political figures and prospective candidates joined locals in Saint Isidore Park (Parque de San Isidro.)

While celebrations were underway in the capital, just outside Madrid, the VOX party councilor for Parla and candidate for upcoming municipal elections was forced to resign on Monday the 15th.

But what did she do? Well, Ana González Martínez was arrested by National Police last week alongside her husband and two others after being involved and possibly spearheading a drug trafficking operation and other serious crimes in Parla and Yeles, and Borox in Toledo. She has since put in her resignation from her holding cell and is awaiting trial.

A trial of sorts also happened in Madrid on Wednesday, the 18th, during a senate debate about the Government's Housing Law proposal. As the People's Popular Party (or PP) senator for Madrid, Pedro Rollán told the central Government exactly what he thought of their proposal.

ing center," referring to the: 1987

The day before, the leader of the PP, Alberto Nunez Feijóo, was on a similar offensive, telling the central Government to "break their relationship with Bildu," referring to the forty-four candidates convicted of belonging to the ETA, that the Basque party presented and eventually withdrew as candidates for this year's elections, because of the outrage. Former ETA members involved with EH Bildu is an extremely controversial issue in Spanish politics.

As municipal elections loom on Sunday, the 28th of May, some towns and villages across Spain won't be marking the day at all; because nobody wants to run.

ince she took the position in: 2011

Tres-paderne is one of many towns without an upcoming electorate; another forty-two towns dotted around the country lack candidates.

The Community of Madrid will have a different problem than Tres-paderne in the upcoming elections, as too many people are fighting for the presidential position. In a live debate on Tuesday the 16th, Podemos-IU-Alianza Verde, formally Unidas Podemos candidate Alejandra Jacinto had a lot to say to the current president and Popular Party (PP) candidate Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

Most of the debate surrounded Ayuso's governance over hospital protocols during the pandemic, as many people believe her government's policies caused hundreds of unnecessary deaths. Jacinto also controversially wore a t-shirt with Ayuso's brother's face on, with a slogan about the mask scandal that rocked the candidacy around last year, causing the PP presidency of Alberto Nunez Feijoo, as well as presenting Ayuso with a copy of the "they will die in an unworthy way" book, written by the former Minister of Social Policies about the PPs policies during the pandemic.

Jacinto, for her part, through Podemos-IU-Alianza Verde, is promising to reduce rental prices, as well as invest in public services and security. The PP's promises are very similar.

While relations remain tense in the capital, US president Joe Biden and President Sanchez reaffirmed their close relationship last week.

’ agreement to clean up the: 1966

What do judges, healthcare workers, and pensioners have in common? This might sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but this week they demanded salary increases and improved working conditions from the Government. State officials from the General and Special Corps have said they will call an indefinite strike from Monday, the 22nd of May if a deal isn't met- just like the healthcare and pension strikes a couple of months ago.

Ahead of the municipal and regional elections, this labor conflict is pretty important, as the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, tries to keep social peace and calm.

Next up, according to the International Study of Progress in Reading Comprehension or PIRLs test, Spanish ten-year-olds or fourth graders are losing their reading comprehension skills.

aken every five years, and in: 2016

The Ministry of Education says it's because of Covid-19 and school closures. Still, others say that Spanish schools must invest more in primary education and evaluate current methodologies to determine their effectiveness.

Speaking of drastic drops, the State Meteorological Agency is warning that a sharp change in weather will hit the peninsula this week with hail, storms, and heavy rainfall. In Andalucia, which has recently seen temperatures of 30°C (86°F) and then drops to 15°C (59°F), it isn't sure where it stands. The same is true in Catalunya, where the weather is increasingly turbulent, going from highs of 22°C (71°F) to 6°C (42.8°F.)

So why is the weather so up and down? The World Weather Attribution Initiative, a collaboration between climate scientists worldwide, set out to investigate this. Their report focused on the unusual April heat in Algeria, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco and concluded that the heatwave was very likely intensified by human-behavior. The report outlines that their observations led them to the quantitative conclusion that the high temperatures they observed would have been “extremely unlikely to occur if human activities had not warmed the climate by 1.2 ℃” around 34°F.”

Want to read the report? Link in show notes.

Next, a story for budding archeologists, as experts discover a 5,400-year-old megalithic tomb in southern Spain. Archaeologists were investigating the countryside near Antequera in Andalusia, renowned for its prehistoric monuments, and unearthed a newly found tomb with interesting rock carvings, pottery pieces, and human remains. The alignment of the tomb means it most likely was designed to funnel light from the midsummer sun into a chamber located deep within, similar build to the Newgrange tomb in Ireland, though less sophisticated.

Aaaaand that’s it for this week! We are a few people trying to share knowledge, with no ads, and no screens. Support us so we can keep doing what we love. Check the link in our show notes to support us.

¡Hasta la próxima!