Tim Parfitt's Blog, page 9
June 10, 2018
Un observador inglés (21) – What’s the point of Ciudadanos?
What’s the point of Ciudadanos? Is it just to complain, sulk and criticise, or do they actually have a political plan that is any different to, say, Spain’s far-right Vox ‘party’? This time last week the leader of C’s, Albert Rivera, the man who only sees Spaniards, tweeted something about agreeing with a tennis player […]
June 3, 2018
Un observador inglés (20) – Even Frankenstein is better than Francoist.
Zinedine Zidane has stepped down as the coach of Real Madrid. I mention that first and foremost because I like to reflect on the past news to help me make sense of the current news. For example, to understand how a “Frankenstein government” (as Pedro Sánchez has been termed by you-know-who) has now taken office […]
May 27, 2018
Un observador inglés (19) – Corruption, credibility and seeing yellow.
The week began with Spain’s Prime Minister, M.Rajoy, backed up by the PSOE and Cs, still refusing to publish the names of the new Catalan government in the ‘official gazette’, thereby keeping Article 155 and the suspension of Catalan self-government in place, because some of the chosen ministers have “pending cases with Spanish justice”. Just […]
May 20, 2018
Un observador inglés (18) – When protest is a rebellion, and choosing your government is a ‘provocation’.
‘Provocation’ is normally defined as an action or speech, carried out deliberately, that makes someone else feel or respond in a certain way, usually becoming angry or offended. Let’s come back to that, after a quick look at some of the rest of the week’s news. The European Parliament is to request in writing explanations […]
May 13, 2018
Un observador inglés (17) – Selling Spain (or trying to) as a ‘consolidated democracy’ …
Note to self: don’t miss a week again, as there’s too much to catch up on afterwards. Here’s just a recap of the key news stories, therefore – I mean, so much has happened in 2 weeks, I can’t bore you with my take on it all … ETA announced its dissolution after more than […]
April 29, 2018
Un observador inglés (16) – From ‘Brand Spain’ to gang rape. Several things need to really change, and fast.
Enric Millo, the Spanish government’s delegate in Catalonia, said during the week that ‘the government of Spain is building confidence around the world, and everyone sees that we have a consolidated democracy.’ Well, let’s just consider that absolutely absurd claim, Enric, as we reflect on some of the week’s news, more or less in the […]
April 22, 2018
Un observador inglés (15) – Who exactly issued the orders to confiscate yellow shirts and scarves?
I’d intended to blog about the main news from Spain and Catalonia again: fake masters, the fake accusations of violence from CDR groups, fake rebellion and terrorism charges, fake accusations of the misuse of public funds, the fake ‘negative effect’ on the economy of the Catalan independence process, the fake news about Russian ‘anti-Spain bots’ […]
April 8, 2018
Un observador inglés (14) – It is now Germany’s fault. Last week it was the international media. Next week it will be Scotland. It is never Spain’s fault.
Let’s start with the guy on a horse who I didn’t include in last week’s blog, the one who’d posted a video of himself on Facebook saying, ‘Long live Spain!’ and ‘Long live Franco!’ – it was even reported that he was a former Spanish Foreign ‘legionnaire’. He said other stuff on the video, too. […]
April 1, 2018
Un observador inglés (13) – Dear Spain, don’t criticise the international media. Blame your own government.
Six months ago today, Spain’s Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, failed to stop a referendum in Catalonia taking place – despite saying he would, and despite spending over €87m brutally trying to prevent it, deploying the Spanish National Police and Guardia Civil to attack innocent voters of all ages. In the weeks prior to 1st October […]
March 25, 2018
Un observador inglés (12) – This needs international mediation, not international arrest warrants.
The news is breaking fast – faster than usual – and so it’s just a short blog this week for various reasons. This time last Sunday, Carles Puigdemont was in Geneva, attending the ‘International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights’. From there, he went to Finland. At the time of writing this, he has […]
