Comment from Edith
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:27 am

- Keep its foot down on issues like abortion and gay marriage, and put the Catholic church in its place, i.e. out of politics.

Comment from Ben
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:30 am

p.s. Please, Señor Rajoy, do the decent thing and resign, your opposition is too odious and insufferable to endure for another 4 years (and certainly doesn’t do your party any good.)

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:44 am

Keep inflation under control. People have suffered massive price rises since the Euro was introduced, and prices seem to forever be on the up.

Also, I agree Rajoy should quit now. I know it wasn´t a landslide loss by his party, but it´s still a loss, and he should now go.

Comment from frank
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:46 am

Found this in another forum, is this the guy you voted for?
“he is the anti-monarchist, red-under-the-bed, atheist, weirdo who over the past four years has slowly but surely brought this country to its knees Rodríquez (Zapatero) is a vile, anti-monarchist, atheist, demagogue with delusions of grandeur who has no place in Spanish politics and why would a country’s prime minister allow his photograph to appear on the cover of a homosexual magazine three time in one month? As one commentator put it “It’s not surprising, Zapatero would sell his own @rse for a few votes”.

Comment from Estuart
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:48 am

Ban the lazy use of banning !As adults we should be able to be more imaginative than simply banning.

Comment from Deano
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:54 am

wooohooo!

Everyone I speak to has told me that Madrid has improved rapidly over the past 4 years. Obviously, there will always be areas of improvement, especially for a country that had and has a lot of catching up to do.

But here is to another 4 years improvement.

Salut.

Comment from frank
Time: March 10, 2008, 9:55 am

I liked Zapatero’s comment,
“The Spanish people have spoken clearly and have decided to open a new period without tension, without confrontation,”
He’s havin a laff, ain’t he?

Comment from frank
Time: March 10, 2008, 10:01 am

From the BBC site, nice to see Mr Z has his priorities right!
After a decade of growth, Spain’s economy is stuttering. Inflation is at a 10-year high and unemployment is the highest this century.
The Spanish housing boom is dwindling, exacerbated by the global credit crunch.
Mr Rajoy’s conservative opposition party focused on immigration, a bigger issue than in previous polls.
The Socialists, meanwhile, highlighted the liberal reforms of their time in office, including the introduction of a gender-equality law, fast-track divorces and same-sex marriage.

Comment from Edith
Time: March 10, 2008, 10:27 am

So gender equality is not important?

Comment from Tom
Time: March 10, 2008, 10:43 am

@Frank

The employment market is in a mess because of what the PP did when they ‘liberalised’ it. Spain’s economy is actually bearing-up better than the EU average… as you might be aware, economies all over the world are having a tough time. There have also been fewer strikes over the last 4 years than in any other parliament. Your previous comment was particularly unpleasant. Do you hate gays?

I agree with Edith: there should be a final separation of church and state. Tax the church, too.

Comment from Tom
Time: March 10, 2008, 10:53 am

Oh but Ben, I’m not sure I completely agree with banning smoking in bars. If a place is small and privately owned, I reckon the owner should be able to decide.

Haven’t you heard about the awful fart situation in England?

Comment from Graeme
Time: March 10, 2008, 11:15 am

I don’t think we need to worry about Rajoy resigning, it’s just a questiion of whether he will do the decent thing before he gets pushed out the window of the PP headquarters in a tragic “accident”. Nobody should imagine that his successor will be amy better - there are even worse possibilities than Rajoy.

I would like to see the new government remove the Church from public education although I’m sure they won’t, act to preserve those few areas of the Spanish coast that haven’t yet been concreted , now is a good time to do it as the construction boom has slowed. Reform local government so that it dosn’t depend for money on land sales for construction.

Comment from Mrmark
Time: March 10, 2008, 11:19 am

“Haven’t you heard about the awful fart situation in England?”

There was a report on the breakfast news in the UK today. Apparently (on average) 4 pubs a day are closing down. I don’t think this is entirely down to the smoking ban, but it’s obviously a big factor. I think Spain has it about right - if you can only drink in a non-smoking establishment then head on to the likes of Cafe Commercial. It’s good though that now you can go for lunch and sit where no-ones smoking.

Someone mentioned the improvements in Madrid over the last few years. Hate to say it, but it’s been PP in charge of Madrid.

Comment from Mrmark
Time: March 10, 2008, 11:21 am

Incidentally my prediction is that as we’re in for some very difficult years economically, by the time of the next election the electorate will be ready for a change. Step forward Esperanza Aguirre Gil de Biedma.!!!!

Comment from Moscow
Time: March 10, 2008, 11:40 am

Agree with the smoking ban. The church needs to learn where it’s place is - but I am not sure 4 yrs will be enough to end a two thousand year old habit. The labour market needs to be reformed - there is no way around this. I realise most of the commentators here seem to lean to the left of the political spectrum, but let me point out that reducing over-regulation and increasing flexibility in the job-market does not necessarily imply reduction in social protection levels. Both can be achieved in unison with intelligent policies. I would also end the monopoly of pharmacies, and allow for medicines to be sold over the counter in supermarkets (as in the UK). Sell off Navantia, Spanish TV (why should citizens be subsidising tat and biased news programmes?), and AENA. Liberalise shopping hours. And finally, if it takes 10 days to start up a new company in the UK, why does it still take 47 days in Spain? Do something about it. But yes, by all means, invest more in R&D, education, health and transport for all.

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 10, 2008, 12:05 pm

Yes, most of the comentators seem to give left-of-centre views (including me), although I´m actually by nature more on the right. I just think that, with my limited exposure to Spanish politics, and not being swayed by old habits, I´m more drawn towards what ZP talks about (and does) than I am by what I´ve seen of Rajoy, who has struck me as incredibly negative (more negative even than UK politics).

As an aside, I was surprised to see quite long queues outside voting stations yesterday. Whenever I´ve voted in the UK, there´s never been a queue of any length. Curiosly though, there was a second queue on the other side of the street. When I looked closer, I realised that this was actually for the roast chicken shop! What that says about Spanish politics, I have no idea, unless of course, the roast chicken shop had become a polling station for the day

Comment from soy pescador
Time: March 10, 2008, 12:35 pm

Well put Moscow , I agree with you 100% as to the Economic reforms that are needed. I had the same conversation this morning with my Spanish mother in law this morning and she voted for old Zap. Let them do the job , but do it correct in all areas. Let the ease of doing business in Spain prevail.

Comment from David
Time: March 10, 2008, 12:37 pm

- I would like to see them get rid of their ridiculous laws that make it illegal to mock the monarchy.

- In fact I would like to see them get rid of the monarchy entirely and turn Spain into a proper republic.

- They should demilitarise the Guarda Civil and turn it into a proper civilian police force, accountable to the electorate.

- Give more autonomy to the different regions and allow them to declare independence if their populations want to.

- Be brave and completely legalise drugs and thereby destroy the black market and violent gangs associated with it.

Comment from soy pescador
Time: March 10, 2008, 12:45 pm

@Ben

Ben I agree with you on the isuue of when the the construction industry collapses in Spain huge warning bells go out. Spain has relied on this and need to find alternatives in industry and trade. Once again the easing up on the restrictions on doing business would help. It is easier to do business in South Africa which is still considered 3rd world than it is here. Far more freedom in trade.

Comment from frank
Time: March 10, 2008, 1:01 pm

” Apparently (on average) 4 pubs a day are closing down. I don’t think this is entirely down to the smoking ban, but it’s obviously a big factor.”

Nor do I think it is down to the smoking ban. I read that of these closures, 80% were rural pubs, and there are many factors that contribute to that. Beer is going up at a fair rate (a £3 a pint is not far away), and people are finding it far cheaper to get their alcohol from supermarkets. The police are also very active when it comes to drink driving in rural areas, people are quite rightly, not prepared to risk it. Plus many city centres are practically no go areas, especially on a weekend. Small shops, post offices are all closing, it’s not only pubs feeling the pinch. Pubs have been closing steadily over the years, in a street near where I live, there were 6 pubs, they are now long gone, nothing to do with the smoking ban.

Comment from Ben
Time: March 10, 2008, 1:09 pm

@Pepino - I’m sure a lot more voting would get done if people could pick up their Sunday roast at the same time!!

Comment from Bill
Time: March 10, 2008, 2:51 pm

I’m generally repelled by any political party that has the word “socialist” in its name, and I generally dislike governments that try to social engineer by state handouts - they just end up trapping people into being reliant on the state. However Rajoy is so ghastly and negative that I’m glad he didn’t win. He should have resigned when it became clear ETA had nothing to do with 11M anyway - but hey, nobody seems to resign or be accountable in Spanish politics anyway. The only problem is that if he goes he might be replaced by Aguirre. I’d like to see the PP take the chance to reform itself, perhaps with Gallardon leading.

Spain generally needs to deregulate itself and detach itself from the euro. By taking control of its interest rates it can control inflation according to the circumstances in Spain (rather than the combined circumstances of the differing economies within Euroland). Spain has a decent infrastructure now, and massive potential - however I can’t see a pro-euro and centralist government such as the PSOE being able to exploit it. We’re in line for 4 years of stagnation I’m afraid.

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 10, 2008, 6:13 pm

I´m fairly anti-Euro (the currency, that is) but I can´t imagine how any of the member countries could beat a retreat from it once signed up. OK, theoretically it´s perfectly do-able, but politically it would isolate Spain from the EU in a way never before seen in the EU´s history. Even the UK (the usual thorn in the EU´s side) could never even manage to cause that amount of fuss.

But I agree, in theory, it´s a great idea to pull out of it. It may be a strong currency on international markets, but it´s value is melting away in the pocket of your average Spaniard.

Comment from luke
Time: March 10, 2008, 6:21 pm

I second the smoking ban in cafes etc, are they really going to do something about it?
“When the construction trade tumbles…” Hasn’t it already started to tumble?

Comment from Dawn
Time: March 10, 2008, 7:10 pm

Third cheer for the smoking ban. And for God’s sake, give it teeth.

I would like to see:

* a public inquiry into the crash of the YAK-42. To me, that was even sadder than the Prestige; any country relies on its Armed Forces, and if the government is NOT willing to protect its soldiers, sailors and airmen and women, it’s a sad state of affairs.
* cut funding to the Church entirely. Let’s see if God will provide after all.
* axe the laws about insulting the Monarchy. Where are we - Thailand? Morocco? Zimbawbe?
* more power and money to the Guardia Civil’s SEPRONA division, to help them protect the environment.
* tax incentives for people to leave their cars at home and use alternative forms of transit
* increased paternal leave to 3 months
* more money for greenways and green tourism!!

Comment from Jon Hundt
Time: March 10, 2008, 7:12 pm

“- Find a new approach to the internal terrorism problem, and solve it once and for all

- Improve the lot of, and respect for, immigrants

- Find a way to make sure the economy doesn’t collapse when the construction trade tumbles

- Ban smoking in bars and restaurants, in line with so many other western European countries”

The first three - dream on! These are the problems no one seems to be able to solve.

The 4th (smoking ban) - ahh, who really cares?

If people really want non-smoking bars, those market forces will become evident and the bar owners will switch because it is good business. Wasn’t that the idea behind unbridled capitalism in the first place? Do we really need a socialist government telling us what is best for us?

I am a life-long non-smoker, I watched the change to non-smoking bars in California back in ‘90 or so. It works, it’s pretty nice, I guess.

I only wonder - if a person OWNS a business establishment, where does the government find the ‘right’ to tell him how people must behave inside his own establishment? Nobody has to come in if they don’t want to… do they?

Comment from Hola Valencia
Time: March 10, 2008, 7:39 pm

We were very surprised about the outcome of the election here in Valencia:

http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=56

WHY?

Comment from sandy
Time: March 10, 2008, 10:01 pm

Actually, Jon, I believe in Spain, if you own a bar or restaurant, you can choose to make it smoking or non-smoking. Unfortunately, almost all the bars and restaurants have chosen to be smoking establishments.

I agree with Moscow that Spain should cut its red tape. Not only it takes a long time to establish a business, it costs a lot of money! Also the amount of paper and copies one has to submit is incredible. Everytime we went to a different department, we were asked to submit copies of documents that you think they should have in the database. Not very enviromentally friendly at all.

Comment from frank
Time: March 10, 2008, 11:16 pm

The 4th (smoking ban) - ahh, who really cares?

I do for one, and so do many millions of others, and many other countries that have successfully applied the ban without all the problems that Spain seems to find. In Spain, according to the figures, around 30% are smokers, and in many small villages and towns, it is practically impossible to find a non smoking establishment for the 70% that don’t choose to smoke. When it comes to laws, Spain has always talked a good game, but the implementation of those laws is something completely different. They still consider drinking and driving, smoking etc, as something very macho. The numbers killed on the roads is incredible. You won’t get harder drinking, heavier smokers than the Irish and the Scots, but the laws have been enforced there with a minimum of fuss.

Comment from richardksa
Time: March 11, 2008, 12:49 am

@Sandy. All the bars and restaurants have not decided to become smoking places. As a smoker I notice this. I do not object to there being places where people can enjoy a meal without the haze of smoke, in fact I prefer it myself. But I do like to smoke with a beer and my morning coffee. I feel that Spain has actually introduced a fair system, and recognises that all memebers of society should have a choice.

Comment from PattyN
Time: March 11, 2008, 12:53 am

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the escalating costs of housing (at least in Madrid). Perhaps costs are really not that bad (compared to average income) or perhaps there’s a perception that there’s nothing the government can do about it?

Comment from Dawn
Time: March 11, 2008, 7:47 am

@PattyN - With regards to housing costs in Madrid, I’m not sure if the problem is that people think that the government can’t/won’t do anything, or that there are too many people in the municipal and regional governments who stand to make a lot of money from the escalating costs of housing. While I don’t want a recession any more than anyone else does, I have a *very* limited amount of sympathy for anyone who bought a flat several years ago and thought that they could either flip it and make a large amount of money - or someone who wants to rent it out for abusive prices. If there’s only one bright side to the collapsing housing market, I hope that’s it: greed doesn’t work.

Comment from luke
Time: March 11, 2008, 9:42 am

“I only wonder - if a person OWNS a business establishment, where does the government find the ‘right’ to tell him how people must behave inside his own establishment? Nobody has to come in if they don’t want to… do they?”
1. The staff may only be able to get a job in a bar. One of the few choices for unqualified immigrants.
2. And children are made to go into cafes if their parents take them.

Comment from jan
Time: March 11, 2008, 9:43 am

Reduce the social security contributions for autonomos to encourage more people to set up legal businesses and more help for small businesses

Comment from sandy
Time: March 12, 2008, 9:56 am

@richardksa, perhpas it is only in Bilbao/Vizcaya area where almost all the bars and restaurants have chosen to be smoking. I only know one bar in Bilbao that’s non-smoking. Oh, come to think of it, there is a restaurant that I once went that claimed to be non-smoking, when I went there, I actually asked them if it was a non-smoking restaurant, the waiter grinned and said if the customer would like to smoke, we certainly willl not say anything to them, especially to a lady. He thought I wanted to smoke! Soon enough, the whole place was full of smoke.

A brave soul who owns a bar in Getxo declared itself non-smoking for a few days, and quickly change back to smoking.

Is there any website we can see a list of smoking and non-smoking establishments in Spain?

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 12, 2008, 11:25 am

Hi Sandy, Regarding your question “Is there any website we can see a list of smoking and non-smoking establishments in Spain?”, I´d say there´s not a snowball in hell´s chance of finding something like this. Aside from the miniscule number of non-smoking bars (I say “miniscule” to play it safe, but I want to say “zero”) you literally just have to stick your head in and sniff up before deciding whether to stick around. And if a bar looks pretty full through the window, then you can assume without even entering that it will be very smoky inside.

Now with the nicer spring weather coming (here in Barcelona today is a beautiful spring day) your best bet is to sit on a street terrace to enjoy your drink.

Comment from Parubin
Time: March 12, 2008, 12:21 pm

@ Sandy : “Is there any website we can see a list of smoking and non-smoking establishments in Spain?”

There is : http://www.nofumadores.org/

In the horizontal Menu Bar select ‘Ocio Sin Humos’ and then ‘Buscador’ (or better you can have this web in English, by clicking on the British flag select ‘Free-Smoke Enterteinment’ and then ‘Search’).

Then you can choose between ‘Bares y Cafeterías’, ‘Restaurantes’ and ‘Discotecas y Pubs’ narrowing your search by city, town or postal code.

It is the owners of the venues who choose to jointhe lists of this web so I’d say there are more places than those listed there.

As an example, in Madrid city there are listed :
-> 139 bares y cafeterías.
-> 297 restaurantes
-> and only just 1 pub??

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 12, 2008, 1:15 pm

Is that a snowball I see flying by?

Well, you live and learn. Thanks Parubin! There´s even a few near my flat. Might try them out and lend a bit of support.

Comment from gran canaria
Time: March 12, 2008, 3:42 pm

¿que el psoe ganó las elecciones “gracias a Dios”? mira, Zapatero lo que ha hecho es dividir a España, ha cometido graves errores en cuanto al terrorismo al reunirse su partido con HB, un partido que apoya al terrorismo, no deteniendo a terroristas durante la tregua, poniendo en la calle a uno de los terroristas mas sanguinarios como De Juana Chaos sin haber cumplido su condena, el apoyar estatutos de autonomía donde se llama “nación” a esas regiones, que a Cataluña, una de las regiones más ricas de España, por su nuevo estatuto, se le tenga que dedicar el 25% del presupuesto de toda España, y el resto de regiones ¿qué recibirá?, que en la economía no se hayan tomado medidas para impedir el gran crecimiento de los precios ni tampoco para que nuestra economía dependiese sólo de la construcción. Las relaciones exteriores de España que ha fomentado ZP han sido el relacionarse maravillosamente con las “grandes potencias” como Cuba y Venezuela, mientras que las relaciones con EEUU están congeladas, ha querido realizar una alianza de Civilizaciones poniendo como iguales a países democráticos con países donde se lapida a las mujeres por cometer adulterio. ¡Vamos, la que nos espera estos cuatro años!

Comment from Olentxero
Time: March 12, 2008, 10:20 pm

1. Prohibir el doblaje.
2. Despedir a todos y todas las inutiles que trabajan en la television espanola.
3. Devolver el patrimonio historico a la CNT.
4. Anunciar la disolucion del estado.
5. Bailar La Macarena encima de la tumba de Jesus Gil.

Comment from Simon
Time: March 13, 2008, 6:58 am

1. Modernise the civil service & treat citizens (taxpayers) like customers rather than the recipients of benevolent favours.
2. Introduce a marginalised tax system so that a pay-rise does not leave you with less net pay because you have gone up a tax band.

Comment from ese
Time: March 28, 2008, 4:06 pm

No sé porque te alegras tanto de que haya ganado Zapatero, teniendo en cuenta que el PSOE está a favor del canon digital. En cambio, el PP está en contra.

Comment from Pepino
Time: March 28, 2008, 4:57 pm

@ese.

To MISquote one of the “dichos” from the new phrase book…

“Más vale una cosa roja que dos mil amarillas”

Comment from ese
Time: March 28, 2008, 7:35 pm

También el gobierno de Zapatero ninguneó a las víctimas del terrorismo y prefirió hablar con las etarras y que De Juana Chaos se duchara con su novia en el Hospital Doce de Octubre.

Comment from Graeme
Time: March 29, 2008, 10:46 am

What complete nonsense - the victims of terrorism do not just include those who support the PP. The main association of victims of the Madrid bombings has been denied funding by the Madrid regional government because they refused to support conspiracy theories about the bombings. De Juana Chaos was going to be released under exactly the same law used by the PP in government to release dozens of ETA prisoners - one of whom later shot dead a Socialist councillor.

Comment from Adrian Elliot
Time: March 30, 2008, 8:03 pm

The Spanish smoking law states that all bars and restaurants of a size of more than 100 square metres should be non smoking. There is however a clause which states that they may create a small section for smokers which should in no case cover more than 30% of the restaurant’s seating space and should be completely sealed and separated from the rest of the restaurant. It should also not include any areas that non smokers have to cross in order to get to their seats.

In the case of restaurants of less than 100 square metres, they can choose to be either smoking or non smoking but never both and they should clearly announce it in the door. Those that permit smoking should also include a health warning on the door.

It is clear that in Madrid the law is completely ignored. One or two chains, such as VIPS, have created hermetically sealed smoking areas however in the majority of cases smokers are allowed everywhere and in the few restaurants with no smoking sections, they are not properly separated and are smaller than the smoking sections.

The authority responsible for enforcing the law in Madrid is the regional government. This is governed by the PP, a party that voted in favour of the smoking law in the national parliament. They nevertheless continue to boycott the law and have not fined a single restaurant. They have also watered it down by allowing offices to create smoking rooms (usually the kitchen!) This is illegal and the national government has taken them to court but the media does not seem to care much. Most journalists in Spain smoke. Not so the readers who write angry letters complaining about the situation of non smokers but are completely ignored by the authorities.

It is a divisive issue in Spain and a long way from being settled.