Spain
Europe-gate. Or how to name criminal investigations across Europe
Things are hotting up in Spain’s courts with the 'Gürtel' case. How does a Spanish juridical affair end up with a German name? European investigation titles go on trial
Documentary 'Listening to Garzon': Spain’s most famous judge judged
‘Escuchando al Juez Garzón’ is an 87-minute documentary shot as a single interview with the high-profile human rights judge in Madrid in late 2010. Over a year later, he is going on trial for triple prosecutions on his abuses of power at his country's supreme court. International human rights activists argue that this 'Judge Dredd' case is one of Spanish science fiction
spain, documentary, corruption, london, culture, chile, madrid
Why would a Spanish 'European volunteer' go to Romania?
2011 was the year of the European volunteer, but it doesn't mean we can't still talk about the role. Has its visibility increased since the economic crisis, due to the lack of opportunities or out of pure altruism? One young Iberian speaks out
spain, european voluntary service , youth, volunteers, romania, economy, society
What is the difference between a revolution and a coup d’etat?
In the midst of the popular revolts which have seen the fall of dictatorships across the Arab world, almost 31 years have passed since the events of '23-F', an attempted coup d’état against the Spanish government on 23 February 1981
spain, democratisation, religion, violence, revolution, politics, army
Pesetas, liras, franks and drachmas: euro is living on borrowed time
Multiple defaults, a return to the lira, pesetas and francs, the break-up of the monetary union and Europe comes crashing down. Sounds like an endless chain of unreal events? Perhaps not: the end of the common currency is no longer a taboo for European press and economists
spain, italy, germany, euro, best of cafebabel.com, economy, euweek
Big city life: Europe’s pigeons
Doves and pigeons are one and the same except that the former got the 'symbol of peace' gig and the latter became the grey critters affectionately known as ‘rats with wings’. Whence the flight of fancy?
spain, italy, tower of babel, germany, animals, languages, europe
Oh joy Rajoy – conservatives take power in Spain after 8 years
On 21 November early elections in Spain saw the people’s party take power from the socialists in an absolute majority to be led by Mariano Rajoy. It is Europe’s fifth government to fall because of the eurozone crisis. The French, Spanish, Italian, Austrian and local press say: ‘reforms, reforms, reforms’
Spain, country in a (property) bubble
Dearest European neighbours: I am sorry to inform you that the crisis in Spain does not have anything to do with the crisis in your countries. Our case is not simply rooted in 'structural problems', as it were, but literally in cement
spain, germany, europe, best of cafebabel.com, construction, economy, housing
Roller hockey, tennis and basket ball wins: golden age for Spanish sport
Not everything is in crisis in Spain. Football, basketball, tennis and even roller hockey: Spanish sport seems to be experiencing a golden age
spain, football, sport, european football championships, europe, hockey, competition
Vetusta Morla, band of the moment in Spain
Their debut album One Day In The World ('Un día en el mundo', 2008) turned them into one of the leading bands on the Spanish music scene. Most locals confess to either loving or hating the six-piece, who formed in high school in Madrid. Interview
spain, festival, music, languages, festivals, europe, awards
Spanish actor Santi Senso, creator of 'house theatre'
The thirtysomething actor is otherwise known for his 'intimate' theatre performances in people's homes across Spain, something he says is driven by a ‘beautiful madness’ inside him. His latest play 'Orgy Me' has just ended its residency in a hotel room in Madrid
Europe reacts: what Gaddafi’s expiration means
On 20 October the world saw a mediatised repeat of bloody images and videos of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein on their deathbeds: Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, 69, was killed in his hometown of Sirte. French, US and British forces were part of the Nato airstrikes in the Libyan civil war which began in February 2011. Read presidential and prime ministerial postcards from Poland, Malta, Italy, France and Germany after the news broke
spain, business, josé luis rodríguez zapatero, italy, angela merkel, germany, communism
Illustrating 'indignados': revolution in comic books
The ‘indignant' movement is a publishing success in Spain. Two works in particular are illustrated, engaging and funny: Revolution complex and Enrique Flores' Cuaderno de Sol. The message is unequivocal: get involved or risk being sidelined
spain, madrid, 'indignant citizens' movement, revolution, politics
The rise of divorce parties in Europe
Inspired by a trend from the United States, an increasing number of companies and services are being established in the UK, France and Germany. Amongst the European Union member states, divorce was not possible until 1970 in Italy, 1981 in Spain 1995 in Ireland and, most recently, 2011 in Malta
spain, money, italy, divorce, germany, eurostat, men and women
Riots: Britain's boring thugs and Europe's burning thread
Don't synonymise the London rioters with the protesting Greeks or Syrians; it is just plain offensive. Yes, Londoners mobilised for four days, but it can't compare to the months of social, political and economic agitation across Europe and the Arab world
One third of Europeans suffer from mental illness: really?
On 6 September a controversial sounding report from the European college of neuropsychopharmacology revealed that 38.2% - of the EU population as well as people from Switzerland, Iceland and Norway - are not quite right up there. Four psychologists from Poland, Spain, France and Italy give cafebabel.com their verdict
spain, vox populi, psychology, health, science, europe, society
Thanks for changing the Spanish constitution without telling me
The country’s limit of a 0.4% GDP deficit by 2020 has found its home in the 1978 Spanish constitution, in a reform passed on 7 September. However, Spain’s second ever constitutional reform, on budget stability, was done in a record two weeks with the two biggest parties consent and without asking the people’s opinion, who subsequently protested in major cities. Elections take place on 20 November
spain, referendum, 'indignant citizens' movement, politics, constitution, society
Germans ban ‘I Like’ facebook button, Spanish want to ‘Dislike’
The north German state Schleswig Holstein has announced that it is banning facebook’s famous ‘I like’ button, with websites which haven’t removed it before the end of September facing fines of up to 50, 000 euros (44,000 pounds). Whilst Germany and the UK have raised more general concerns, the Spanish were there first
spain, belarus, tower of babel, germany, poland, twitter, united kingdom
Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid: Habemus (50 million euros worth of) controversy
There were two opposing faces to world youth day 2011, which was celebrated in Madrid between 18 and 21 August. Crowds of enthusiastic young people dressed in yellow sang in various cities whilst the highest authority within the catholic church was visiting. Why did this year’s event spark anger amongst a large sector of the population?
spain, religion, culture, youth, madrid, crise économique, society
Lucia Martin: Spanish youth are ‘you can see them coming’ generation
Stigmatisation and pity were the two main attitudes towards today’s youth until the 39-year-old Spanish journalist opted to say ‘enough’. This generation of young Europeans are drowning in short-term work contracts, never-ending internships and minimal salaries. Yet aren’t they just ‘precarious’ in a society which is brutally competitive?
spain, crisis, españa, jóvenes, europe, students, 'indignant citizens' movement
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