Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 1

CLICK HERE FOR THE FEATURE ARTICLES "Torrential storms leave death, destruction and environmental damage on Spain’s southern coast" and "Spain moves a step closer to Digital Nomad Visas"

We expect a bit of rain in October and even late September. What’s not been normal is the 30ºC+ temperatures we’ve been having until recently. But it’s also not normal to have torrential downpours so extreme that they cause loss of life. Sure, we’ve become accustomed to getting bucketed on periodically, but that doesn’t mean that’s the way nature planned it to be. It’s that way because our species is actively changing the climate and weather systems of our planet over the years. And now we’re suffering the consequences.

Of course, it’s easier to spot the human culprit at the root of such niggling administrative issues as invalid driving licences, electoral registration problems and visa requirements, which we’ve got plenty of inside too…

Rain, rain, go away

The torrential rainfall last weekend left over 100 litres of water per square metre in certain parts of southeastern Spain in just one hour, leaving destruction in its wake to property, the environment and human life.

In Murcia, the worst hit town was Javalí Viejo, near the provincial capital, where a huge river of raging water was created suddenly in the middle of the town in the early hours of Monday morning that swept cars down the street and smashed them into the sides of buildings and even claimed the life of one man.

The 60-year-old local man was sleeping on his sofa when the flood water came crashing through his living room and carried him away down the street, where his body was found 300 metres away the next morning. Municipal authorities have asked that the town be named a disaster zone and a fund has been set up to raise money to help people rebuild.

In Alicante province, too, the thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong gusts of wind meant rivers burst their banks, leading to widespread flooding and traffic incidents with people trapped in cars and dozens of trees blown over in fierce winds.

The hardest hit was Pego in the Marina Alta region, where 131.2 litres per square metre of rain was recorded in just four hours. One man was injured after he fell into a manhole dislodged by torrential rains and miraculously, nobody was hurt when gusts blew out a large window which fell to the ground from the 12th floor of a building in Playa de San Juan in Alicante on Sunday.

These latest floods come exactly 10 years after the catastrophic flooding in Lorca which claimed the lives of ten people, which have been commemorated this week in a solemn ceremony by locals who never forget.

But for some the greatest tragedy is that of the Mar Menor, which was assaulted by an onslaught of fresh water that surged into the saltwater lagoon, tripling the amount of potentially contaminated water surging into the lagoon and further endangering the wildlife and flora which were already holding on for dear life. It seems especially unfair for this to happen now as the Mar Menor has managed to survive Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 1

an unusually hot summer that threatened to create new pockets of anoxia, and emerge largely unscathed with oxygen levels and temperatures reasonably stable, despite experts’ predictions that we would see another episode of thousands of dead fish washing up on the shores, suffocated.

For the protected lagoon to dodge that summer bullet, only to run straight into the autumn one, seems an especially unfair twist of fate but one which, alas, the local municipalities like Los Alcázares have known could be coming and which they have tried hard to fight, but as ever have not received the necessary support from the higher-ups.

Thankfully the weather forecast in the short term is for more settled, drier conditions. But how much longer must this ecosystem – now to be treated legally as a person – suffer before we can finally stop events like this year-in, year-out?

UK-Spain relations

It’s been another frustrating week for British expats as September rolls into October with no resolution on the UK driving licence exchange fiasco. After two weeks of radio silence, the Ambassador Hugh Elliott took to social media on Tuesday to give another update/non-update on driving licences, assuring Britons who have been off the road in Spain since May that the DGT in Spain and the UK’s Department of Transport are “in discussions almost daily about the outstanding issues”.

Previously, the British Embassy in Madrid announced that by the end of July Brits would once again be able to exchange their UK driving licences for Spanish ones and drive using their British licences for a period of six more months. Maddeningly though, this promised deadline has come and gone without much of an explanation about the reasons for the hold-up.

“The truth is it has taken much longer as there have been unforeseen issues that we have been working very hard to resolve,” said the Ambassador in the latest video, without specifying what those issues are but assuring us that he’s “as disappointed as you are by the length of time this is actually taking.”

He insisted that there are “only a couple of issues left to resolve”, which remain – as ever – a “top priority”. Speculation on the rumour mill is that Spain is deliberately holding up proceedings to try and get a concession from the British of some form of joint sovereignty over the Rock of Gibraltar. Whatever the case really is, the only official information we have is the same old party line that has been peddled in every other ‘update’ and which will come as cold comfort to the countless Brits who are no longer able to get behind the wheel.

Last week, plans were afoot to stage a protest at the British Embassy in Madrid and a petition has been launched to allow UK licence holders temporarily back on the road until a formal agreement is made. However, the Ambassador indirectly implied that this is basically a waste of time, since it is “not in the gift of the UK government”, but rather it was only the Spanish government who could provide that, something they have steadfastly denied.

It seems to be all pain and very little gain for Britons in Spain at the moment as Brexit has reared its head once more to add another fly to the ointment. The Local Municipal Elections are coming up in May next year and traditionally, UK citizens resident in Spain were allowed to vote, or even stand for office.

Since Brexit though, Brits fall into the category of “Countries with reciprocal agreements”, which has different criteria for qualification and expats will have to re-register as voters if they want to have a say in how their locality is run.

The details are still being thrashed out, but what is known so far is that Britons who want to vote will need to be over 18 and registered on their municipality’s Padrón. In addition – and here’s the kicker – they must have been legally resident, having been in possession of a residencia card for at least three years prior to voter registration.

This, of course, excludes anyone who became resident after the Brexit deadline in 2020; the 3-year rule essentially implies that if you were not a legal resident in 2019 or before, in all probability you will not qualify to vote in the 2023 local elections.

Expats who have alternate EU nationality but have previously registered to vote using their UK status or are wishing to vote for the first time will still have to register to be able to vote as EU citizens.

Once the deal is ratified, it is expected that Brits will be invited to register their intention to vote in Spain between December 1 2022 and January 15 next year, not a lot of time given that there are several national holidays during this period.

It’s entirely possible that there will be even more hoops to jump through, so if you want to vote in next year’s local elections make sure you keep up with the news as it seems like developments will be swift once the ratification is issued.

Nomads’ Land

Want the good news? Well, the government is steaming ahead with its plans for a brand-new ‘digital nomad visa’ which should make remote working in Spain for UK citizens and other people from outside the EU a lot easier, and more lucrative.

The details are still being thrashed out, but it looks like the work permit will be open to those who claim at least 80% of their monthly income from companies outside Spain. The best part is that digital nomads will receive a great tax break, paying just 15% income tax rather than the usual 25%.

Applicants will need to prove they have to means to support themselves while living in Spain and must have worked remotely for at least a year, but if the one-year permit is granted, it can be extended for up to five in total – giving you the chance to move to Spain while still working remotely for your current company, a gift for anyone who now regularly Works from Home as standard procedure post-Covid and who is thinking of upping sticks to sunny Spain. Even better, you can bring your spouse, children and close relatives with you who can all also get a visa to live in Spain.

Murcia

The warning signs were there, but it still took everyone by surprise on Monday afternoon. The loud explosion shook people out of their siesta slumber in central Murcia, and panic-stricken residents took to social media to report the loud bang they had just heard and wondering what it could be.

As it was, the air-renting sound was actually from a US fighter bomber which had broken the sound barrier as it flew over Murcia, creating a sonic boom. But why would a US fighter jet be travelling faster than the speed of sound over Murcia, and why wasn’t anyone notified?

Well, it turns out the Spanish Air Force was running its Tactical Leadership Programme 2022, which involves pilots manoeuvring “supersonic flights” over the Region between September 19 and 29, and Lorca Town Hall had told everyone far in advance that this would be happening.

In this case, the high-tech US military plane – McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, which can reach up to 3017km/h – departed from the Los Llanos international airbase in Albacete, where NATO forces operate, and crossed over the Mar Menor before turning around and heading over the Mula River, Sierra Espuña and on up to Alicante.

Because of the disruptive noise they make, these training flights were restricted to only be allowed to fly in the afternoons, but they still caught many people off guard. In fact, the blast this Monday was so powerful it even felled a traffic signal at exit 140 of the A-30!

In another apparent bombshell that got people talking this week, a property on the Condado de Alhama urbanisation has come up for State auction, presumably because the apartment was requisitioned by the courts after non-payment of a debt by its former owner.

The 2-bedroom flat in Jardín 2 is shown in the auction valuation as being worth 145,000 euros, but as there is no minimum bid amount this could be an opportunity for one canny speculator to be able to pick up a piece of “prime” real estate for as little as 1 euro (or at most half the 145K it has been valued at, which is what it’s likely worth today).

The auction, which started back on September 23, is conducted fully online and lasts until October 13. In order to make a bid, you only have to register with the auction authority and met the other stipulations to be able to pay the deposit.

But the real estate opportunity that is almost more exciting is the rumour that the Condado golf course itself is being sold. Despite the fact that the proposed Clubhouse never materialised and the course ran into other problems after constructor Polaris World got into financial difficulties over 10 years ago, it has been long popular among golfers of all handicaps for its impressive 6,884 metres, 5 large lakes and 116 bunkers.

Alas, it seems the course is not as profitable as owner GNK Golf would like it to be and so they have indicated their intention to attempt to sell the course or – if that proves impossible – to close it altogether, which might even lead to it being closed as a golf course and sold for property development.

To prevent that from happening, a group of homeowners on Condado going under the banner of “A Fairway to Heaven” have put together a bid to buy the course themselves, potentially investing 2,000 euros for each of an estimated 1,000 shares – which would make a total sale value of 2 million euros.

So if a cut-price 2-bed home in Murcia isn’t enough to tempt you, maybe a stake in a golf course will!

Check out our EVENTS DIARY to see everything that’s going on in Murcia in the next few weeks:

Spain

There could be more bad news on the horizon for holidaymakers as a new report from consultancy firm Deloitte suggests that the ‘Fit for 55’ plan by the European Union, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% before 2030, will significantly hike up plane ticket prices to Spain.

The Deloitte report predicts that the environmental measures included in the Fit for 55 package would mean the loss of 11 million international tourists coming to Spain, not to mention the 12 billion euros they would spend and the 430,000 jobs that rely on them.

The measures include a possible ‘ticket tax’ that would add an extra 7.85 euros onto the cost of plane tickets to Spain, and an obligation to use 5% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is three to six times more expensive than conventional fuel.

While this might seem at first glance to be bad news for holidaymakers, the reality is that the measures are only a drop in the ocean in the EU’s fight against climate change. Air travel is one of the biggest pollutants out there, and the ticket tax and carbon taxes being posited will allow more compulsory investment into technologies that effectively contribute to the reduction of emissions – which can only be a good thing.

If there’s going to be a ticket tax, it might be an idea to implement a ‘disruptive passenger tax’ given the number of in-flight disruptions that have been reported this summer. The latest fiasco occurred aboard a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Mallorca and resulted in a British man being arrested when he touched town in Spain for sexually assaulting another passenger.

According to the victim’s statement, minutes before the plane prepared for landing, the guy in the seat next to her began making sexual innuendos and grabbed her breast. She reported this outrage to the flight attendants, who moved her to a different seat and radioed ahead to the airport about what had happened. It’s understood the groping passenger was fined almost 3,000 euros for his inappropriate behaviour.

Alicante

A teenager’s holiday took a terrifying turn in Torrevieja when she was allegedly gang-raped by three French tourists who were arrested within 24 hours of the reported attack. The 18-year-old Nordic victim had gone out for dinner with a friend in the Marina Salinas leisure area when at some point in the evening, her friend went home and she was left alone in a bar. As she made her way back to her apartment, she was approached by one of the now imprisoned men. He struck up a conversation with her and they walked together until they came to the flat where he was holidaying with friends.

After allegedly being enticed into the apartment, the young woman was raped by the first man and two other males. Following the horrific assault, the Nordic tourist, who had earlier lost her purse and mobile phone, managed to flee the flat and ran into the street where she was helped by passers-by.

Two 19-year-olds and a third, aged 22, have been remanded in custody, while a 30-year-old who was in the flat when the sexual assault took place, but didn't participate or help the victim, has been released.

Meanwhile, Valencia President, Ximo Puig this week ruffled feathers within the central administration and announced his own round of tax reforms to combat the crippling effects of inflation.

The measures will benefit 1.3 million people and include a 100-euro mortgage deduction, a reduction in personal income tax and free travel on the Generalitat’s metro, tram and buses for people under the age of 30 until the end of the year.

According to the president, this could potentially save around 1.5 million young people 135 euros each over the next three months. Arguably, one of the biggest reforms will benefit low- and medium-income families and residents with annual earnings of up to 60,000 euros; which means 97.4% of taxpayers in the region. This hinges on three axes: a 10% increase in the amount exempt from taxation; a new personal income tax brackets for this year; and a 10% increase in allowances and deductions.

The measures will be retroactive from January 1 of this year and will be applicable to the 2022 income tax.

In other good news for the province, albeit long-awaited, the Valencia Government plans to carry out a study to improve rail connections in the Vega Baja region. The president’s earlier pledge of free transport may well benefit 1.5 million young people, but not those that live in the Vega Baja since the region doesn’t currently have a means of transport operated directly by the Generalitat.

However, this could change in coming years with Puig revealing the government intends to create tram links between Orihuela and Torrevieja, and another line from Torrevieja to Alicante-Elche airport. The government clearly wants to extend Metrovalencia and Alicante TRAM services, operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana, into the Vega Baja, but as yet no further information, such as timeline or budget, has been divulged.

Elsewhere in Alicante province, a study into a new rail link between Denia and Gandia in the Marina Alta region is also being put out to tender.

And finally, as we bid farewell to the summer and embrace autumn, Alicante Tourist Board has launched a packed program of events and activities at Santa Barbara Castle from September to December.

The hugely popular historical attraction has already welcomed 465,000 people so far this year, exceeding all expectations for the first year of outsourced management of the castle.

"We are seeing the magnificent results of the public-private collaboration at the castle and are delighted that 65% of these 465,000-plus visits are first visits predominantly from Spain, Poland, UK, Norway, Italy and Germany in that order," explained head of the tourist board, Elena Lumbreras.

And this figure could well reach record levels with a jammed calendar of events in store, including historical recreations, a Halloween-themed weekend, horror movies, activities for children including storytelling and magic, and musical performances, ensuring something for everyone.

Andalucía

A shaky week on the Costa del Sol as Malaga was rocked by not one, not two, but seven large earthquakes. The first was recorded early on Monday morning, shortly before 4am, with its epicentre in Malaga capital where it registered with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale, though in Fuengirola and Mijas it was felt with intensity 3 while in Rincón de la Victoria and Casabermeja it was felt with intensity 2.

The second earthquake came less than 24 hours later and was only very slightly smaller, at magnitude 3.9. This time, the epicentre was in Benalmádena, but it was still felt as far away as the capital with an intensity of 3. The other five came on Wednesday morning – three in the Granada municipality of Salar, one in Torrox and one in Alhaurín el Grande.

Thankfully, the emergency services in Andalucía didn’t receive any calls from concerned citizens and no material damage or personal injury was reported in any of the earthquakes, some of which were almost double the strength of the seismic events normally experienced in the area.

Someone who had a much more settled time of it this week was Boris Johnson, who was spotted sunning himself by the beach in Cadiz province, specifically in the surfer’s paradise of Tarifa.

While the British economy went into freefall thanks to the widely criticised missteps of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and new Prime Minister Liz Truss, the former PM was said to be swanning round in swimming trunks and a T-shirt last Sunday on the Playa de Bolonia beach, by all accounts – and perhaps understandably – having a terrific time.

Whether or not he had earned his time off is a matter for debate, but there’s no doubt that the economy was the last thing on Boris’s mind while he was at Playa de Bolonia – one of the best beaches on the Andalusia coastline.

Accompanied by his wife, Carrie Johnson, and their children (plus a whole assignment of bodyguards who never left their side), Johnson dropped into the Ríos guesthouse and hostel, one of the most popular terraces on the Playa de Bolonia, right on the beachfront.

As the hostel’s owner, José Antonio Ríos, put it, “He just had a swim and then left.” But not before taking a photo with employee Antonio Rocha, barefoot and with flip-flops in hand.

El ex primer ministro Boris Johnson se dejó caer este finde por Bolonia https://t.co/e6QUvDluC7 a través de @opennemas
— Shus Terán Reyes (@Shusteranreyes) September 28, 2022

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That’s all for another week. Thanks as ever for reading. We really appreciated your continued support. Without you, our loyal readers, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do and bring you the most relevant news stories from around Spain week-in, week-out. So a massive thanks as ever for being there.

We’ll be back next week with more. See you there!

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