Barcelona!?!?!?!?!?!.................
Posted on 05/23/2011 8:48:19 AM PDT by La Lydia
...Amid anger at the failing economy, the centre-right Popular Party (PP) won 37% of the vote to the Socialists' 28%, and nearly all the 13 regions up for grabs. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero conceded defeat but ruled out early general elections. There was a shock result in the Basque country, where a new radical separatist alliance beat the Socialists.
The new grouping, Bildu, which was nearly banned by the courts for members' alleged links to the armed group Eta, won more than 25% of the council election vote. That put it second behind the moderate Basque Nationalist Party, which won about 30%, and pushed the Socialists, with 16%, into third.
Voting took place amid mass protests against high unemployment and the government's handling of the economy. Young demonstrators holding sit-ins in Madrid and other cities said rallies would continue for another week.
Mr Zapatero said three years of economic crisis had taken their toll....However, he vowed to pursue job-creating reforms until the end of his mandate. A general election must be held by March of next year. He has already said he will not stand for re-election...
What began as a sit-in in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square a week ago has turned into a national protest movement popularly known as 15-M. About 30,000 people were estimated to have occupied the central square in the run-up to the vote.
The protests, which have also taken place in cities including Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Bilbao, have so far been peaceful. Demonstrators defied a government ban on political protests on the eve of the election.
On Sunday, protesters in Puerta del Sol voted to stay in the square until at least 29 May.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
about time.......
This is the same Spain which swept the socialists into power after the Madrid train bombings. This would appear to be one of those rare times when you can fix stupid.
Barcelona!?!?!?!?!?!.................
That is “Barthelona.”
Too little, too late. And the first time the new government tries to fix anything, they’ll be forced out of power and the Socialists will return.
Imagine getting $3500.00 when you give birth. OMG. That’s what Spain WAS doing, among other outrageous govvie payments to its citizens.
If the business elements regain power, it might find even more off balance sheet debt that no one knows about yet.
I hope the Spanish can pull this rabbit out of the hat financally. They are lovely people - if misguided.
At first that sounds bad but Spain birth rate is lower then any country in Europe at around 1.2 fertility rate.
How do you turn that around?
You don’t turn it around ny bribing people to give birth. Thanks model doesn’t work well after a spell.
Perhaps by giving thanks to God for their lives by returning to church, instead of hanging out in public plazas to whine about losing govvie subsidies?
Your point is well taken, however. Thanks for the post!
By giving birth isn’t the mother actually performing a service for her country? The more natural born babies = the fewer immigrants needed. In 18 years it will also help fund the govt’s obligations...
I’d venture a guess & say that a natural born child will contribute far more than $3500 to the govt than an immigrant would. Also children are a stabilizing force in the economy. Parents tend to work harder & invest in their local communities more.
IMO, birth in this country should be free & the mothers given a hero’s welcome home from the hospital.... Retirees’ that failed to save for their own retirement on the other hand can rot.
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