BoT 649

 

Business over Tapas

A digest of this week's Spanish financial, political and social news aimed primarily at Foreign Property Owners:

Prepared by Lenox Napier.  Consultant: José Antonio Sierra

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September 24 2026            Nº 649          

 

Editorial: 

Being in my twilight years, I must search each night, with only limited success, for a decent sleep. So many things can go wrong: from the owl hooting outside my window, a sudden cramp or an irritating mosquito-bite; but I suppose being uncomfortably hot (or cold, depending) is the most common. Just a week ago, I wasn’t even wearing a sheet.

Plus of course, there’s waking up to take a leak halfway through the night.

I’ve switched on the ‘no phone calls after 10pm’ button on the mobile phone so at least I won’t be roused by some nitwit…

Once I awaken, it’s the very devil trying to get back to sleep and that enjoyable dream I was probably having – which I’ve since forgotten. 

So, I decided on an early night on Wednesday last week (my book is a bit boring).

You know, it wasn’t five minutes after I fell asleep when an alarum went off on my phone Waddoo, Waddoo, Wadd- the fuck? 

Yes, those fine people at Civil Protection had put out an Es-Alert warning in red capital letters regarding a most terrible storm that was approaching, man the lifeboats and move the family and pets upstairs; and please, Take Care because we love you!

I put something rude about them on Facebook and tried to go back to sleep.

My place is on a hill beyond a dry riverbed. On the other side, there’s a fast road that connects our village with the next one along. If it’s useful by day, then it’s a cracker at night, especially if you own a tricked-out motorcycle and enjoy a good thrill. I’ve become impervious over my time here to the noise of a throaty exhaust pipe, taking about twenty seconds or so to rise and fall in decibels as it hurtles down the straight, but I think this time somebody must have organised a race, because I am suddenly wide-awake once again at three.

No rain yet, as I peer out over the terrace. Grumpily I try and get to sleep again. I’ve had about four hours by now, so I’m not going to pass out again for a while. After a bit, and grouchy because of my interrupted night, I switch on the bedside lamp and check my e-mails. Maybe have another go at my book.

At six on the dot, a single clap of thunder teases me.

I stagger from bed at nine this morning, go and feed the cats, and check once again for the terrible storm.

So far, as I open a can of pet food, it appears to have drizzled slightly.

I consider having an early siesta.

Last night’s alarm was apparently something to do with Valencia, 356 kilometres to the north, where it’s been raining heavily.

It reminded me (and no doubt them) that the last flooding up there, almost two years ago, was greeted by silence from the authorities, and in consequence 230 people drowned. They also failed to warn us down here with their noisy and effective siren when the hills around next-door Bédar caught fire with fifteen victims back in July. A horrible event that I could see for three nights from my bed-room window.

So now, there's an alarm to wake the dead. Better safe than sorry, eh?

I am once again on the Internet as I sip a coffee – no rain for my area, it says, until Saturday!

Remind me on Friday night to switch the phone off and put a cushion on top of it.

Later: Saturday started out overcast, then it cleared up again. There’s never much rain where I’m living! 

…...

Housing: 

From The Olive Press here: ‘Marbella has launched a massive eastward expansion with the processing of three major developments set to bring more than 6,400 homes and luxury hotel complexes’. 

From 20Minutos here: ‘This is the cheapest town in Andalucía to buy a home: 50,000 euros for an 80-square-metre house’. Another filler, this time featuring the town of Torreperogil in Jaén. 

From Público here: ‘The Community of Madrid has put the Chamberí penthouse back on the market for €6.7 million. This second tender process will become a permanent public offer if no bids are received within an initial 30-day period’. This is the place apparently bought for Isabel Diáz Ayuso with public funds which has now turned into a source of embarrassment for the president of the Madrid Region. 

A disagreeable story about 87-year-old Maricarmen evicted from her apartment in Madrid (where she has lived since she was 17) by a Spanish vulture-fund called Urbagestión S.L on Wednesday. She was paying €500 a month, and the new owners of the block put the rent up to €2,650 – far beyond her means. She was removed by the police, who also had to deal with a large number of protestors. She spends the night (at least) at the Gregio Marañón hospital. Afterwards, who knows… who cares...? The vulture-fund refusing to negotiate.  More at La Ser here.   

…...

Tourism: 

Euronews says, ‘Spain sets out its 2030 sustainable tourism strategy – with residents a ‘core’ focus’. More of a ‘gotta-do-something’ plan I think than a realistic look at tourism. 

The Majorca Daily Bulletin warns that ‘Britons face a £150 increase on flights to Spain under new proposals from the Climate Change Committee. Net Zero targets could leave people unable to go on holiday says travel boss’. 

…...

Seniors: 

Public Healthcare (Centro de Salud / CAP): Contact your local public health clinic or primary care centre. If you are over 60, the flu vaccine—and often the COVID-19 booster, recommended for those 70 and older—is free through the public system’ (Google AI). 

…...

Finance: 

El País in English has: ‘From Opus Dei alumni to McKinsey consultants: The clans that run Spain’s biggest companies. Many executives and board members at the largest listed firms in Spain share ties through the same consulting firms, business schools or senior public-sector posts. Experts warn of the risks posed by these tightly knit networks of power’. 

‘Spain’s largest green hydrogen project officially begins construction in La Rábida (Huelva). The first 300MW phase of Project Onuba is expected to produce 45,000 tonnes a year once operational’. From Hydrogen Insight here. 

…...

Politics: 

One might think that it was instructive to know who is behind the different pressure groups, or ‘lobbies’ that circle around the Cortes. A proposal to this end has just been defeated in Parliament. From Civio here: ‘The PP, Junts, and Vox shoot down the lobbying decree-law, once again delaying a regulation vital to democracy. Amid criticism regarding the use of the decree-law procedure and partisan infighting, the only way to move forward with this regulation is to unblock—as soon as possible—the bill that has been stalled in Congress for a year’. 

The PSOE’s Organization Secretary Rebeca Torró criticizes Feijóo’s attitude regarding the Ceuta crisis: “If he doesn’t want to cooperate, at the very least, he shouldn’t make everything more difficult.” More at elDiario.es here. 

‘The government “condemns” the opening of the trial against Begoña Gómez: “The political intent is unquestionable.”’. Item from elDiario.es here. A statement from La Moncloa reads: “We condemn Judge Peinado’s decision to order the opening of an oral trial against Begoña Gómez. We denounce this as an arbitrary and unjust judicial process that stems solely from the judicial persecution of Begoña Gómez simply because she is the wife of the President.” 

Question: Is Feijóo thinking of the future of Spain – or the future of Feijóo? 

…...

Ceuta and Melilla: 

From Google AI here: ‘Approximately 9,000 to 10,000 irregular migrants remain in Ceuta, according to the central Spanish government’s latest estimates. Local Ceuta authorities have projected the figure to be as high as 13,000.

The current situation is divided into two primary groups:

-Housed in Official Facilities: Around 6,000 people have been processed and placed into designated government-run accommodations. This includes a newly opened tent facility at the city’s port designed to alleviate pressure by taking in up to 1,700–1,800 individuals.

-Living on the Streets, Beaches, and Mountains: An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 migrants (including several hundred minors) are still living out in the open’. These figures are higher than the government has been reporting. However, as the situation gets worse, the conservative opposition looks for more support from the public. As José María Aznar says, ‘El que pueda hacer, que haga’. 

From LaSexta here: ‘Violent, hooded individuals who beat up migrants committing crimes in Ceuta speak out: "The police thank us; they turn a blind eye." LaSexta speaks exclusively with a group of Ceuta residents who have decided to take the law into their own hands to attack migrants they deem to be "criminals."’. 

‘Feijóo’s PP distances itself from the response to the Ceuta crisis more than 50 days later. The opposition is blocking any cooperation from the regions or municipalities it governs, leaving the central government overwhelmed by the task of managing the thousands of people remaining illegally in the autonomous city’. Item from elDiario.es here. 

‘Most underage migrants who entered Ceuta will not be returned, Spanish minister says’. Item found at Euronews here. 

‘Since August 28, Ceuta has ignored a formal proposal from the government to take in 500 minors on the mainland’. Found at La Ser here. 

From New York, Sánchez talks to Cristiane Amanpour about Ceuta here (video). 

…...

Europe: 

From The Majorca Daily Bulletin here: ‘The European Union will not give the UK the Canada treatment of becoming an associate member. The British government wants closer ties with the EU’. 

…...

Health: 

elDiario.es has: Spanish doctors create the transplants of the future: organs that last a lifetime and avoid rejection. A team at La Paz Hospital is moving closer to the “holy grail” of transplant medicine by successfully getting the recipient’s immune system to accept the organs as its own. The ONT (national transplant organisation) believes this approach could eliminate the need for immunosuppression and “radically change patients’ lives.” 

…...

Crime and Punishment: 

‘Each and every one of the 83 Supreme Court justices earns 30,000 euros per annum more than Pedro Sánchez. Indeed, the Supreme Court’s transparency portal has not updated the justices' salaries since the major 2023 pay hike that allowed them to reach the aforementioned figures, funded by the state budget’. From Nueva Tribuna here. 

El Mundo here: ‘Judge Juan Carlos Peinado sends Begoña Gómez to a jury trial for influence peddling and embezzlement’. Could this happen in any other country on the planet? Not a chance. 

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado retires this week after what many have agreed to call “one last service” to the Partido Popular and to the fatherland—symbolized by the flag bracelet he wears on his wrist. The controversial magistrate bows out following a shameful investigation—originally based on fake press clippings—that has culminated in the opening of a trial against Begoña Gómez, the President’s wife; she will face a jury on charges of influence peddling and embezzlement. With the judge heading into retirement, the question remains: what now?’. El Plural opinion here. For one thing, they’ll need a new impartial (imPPartial?) judge to handle the trial and choose an appropriate date. 

‘A retired lieutenant colonel calls for a coup d'état from the Madrid Military Club. Francisco Bendala Ayuso urges the Armed Forces to form "a provisional emergency government" to prepare for "the launch of a constituent process to draft a new Constitution that completely overhauls the current one."’. Público reporting here. 

…...

Media: 

The Spanish Ministry of Culture has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to archive.today because it allows users to bypass news paywalls and store copyrighted material without authorization.

More on this at Banda Ancha here.

Reclaim The Net says: ‘Spain orders blocks on Archive.today and its mirrors. No court ruling was required; only a complaint, a commission, and a censorship protocol built for speed’.

From Google AI: ‘How to Bypass Paywalls and Access Hidden Text’:

You can use several legal browser functionalities, open-source extensions, and alternative platforms to view article text.

1. Browser Reader Mode

Most modern web browsers include a built-in "Reader Mode" that strips away ads, scripts, and styling. This often loads the complete article text before the paywall script triggers.

 Safari: Click the Reader icon (two 'A's) on the left side of the address bar.

 Firefox: Click the Reader View icon (looks like a page) on the right side of the address bar or press F9.

 Edge / Chrome: Click the Immersive Reader icon or use extensions that force reader mode.

2. Disable JavaScript

Many soft paywalls rely on JavaScript to hide the text and display a subscription popup. Turning off JavaScript for that specific news site will often reveal the hidden article.

 How-to: Click the lock/tune icon next to the URL in your address bar, open Site Settings, and change JavaScript to Block. Refresh the page.

 Another way is to use a VPN set to the USA or Mexico for example. 

‘To the delight of the political right, Ceuta and the issue of immigration are set to take centre stage in the pre-election campaign already underway. ​​Feijóo once again stoked the fires of xenophobia at a rally this Sunday by linking immigration to crime; he declared that, should he come to power, he would seal Spain off completely against those "coming to break the law." Over the past 50 days, the PP has blocked any solution to the crisis in Ceuta, as it benefits them for the government to remain overwhelmed…’ Opinion from elDiario.es. 

From El Plural here: 'Ok Diario joins Vox's campaign against the 'La Séptima' broadcast license. The party and the online outlet are attempting to block the launch of the channel—scheduled to begin broadcasting on November 5—by challenging the awarding of the licence’. The new TV channel will be a refreshing antidote to the conservative private TV broadcasters. 

…...

Ecology: 

From La Razón here: ‘Antonio Turiel, a CSIC research scientist, urges concern regarding the El Niño phenomenon: "I think we’re in for a huge shock next year—a really, really big one." The Pacific is accumulating record heat, while scientists warn that climate change is no longer advancing gradually but in giant leaps.’ 

From The Guardian here: ‘Burning forests, emptying rivers, €180,000 million in damage: Europe’s politicians face reckoning after ‘summer of truth’. Amid record-shattering heatwaves and popular demand for climate action, why are politicians often timid or in denial?’ 

…...

Various: 

‘The PP rejects a parliamentary investigation into the Bédar fire: “We must avoid political confrontation,” says a regional deputy’. We are reminded that no Es-Alert was sent so as ‘to avoid confusion’. The story, plus another one: ‘Those affected find it “very strange” that the Andalusian Parliament is “not investigating Andalucía’s most tragic fire.”’ Both come from a local source called Actualidad Almanzora here and here. 

From Telesur here: ‘The Instituto Cervantes Launches Its First Academic Chair in Northern Ireland. The Instituto Cervantes consolidates its expansion in the United Kingdom with the opening of its first academic chair in Northern Ireland, coinciding with the centenary of the Department of Spanish at Queen’s University’. 

From Moncloa here: ‘The day seven thousand Spaniards fled Africa, and the press couldn't report a thing. On January 20, 1969, the Franco regime imposed the tightest news blackout of its recent history. Invoking the newly enacted Official Secrets Act for the first time, the Council of Ministers classified everything related to Equatorial Guinea as "restricted information." From that morning on, no newspaper, radio station, or magazine in Spain could publish a single word about events in the former colony without risking massive fines or the immediate seizure of the edition…’ An interesting (and ignominious) story. 

If you have nothing better to do, then enjoy ‘12 Spain Towns So Weird You'll Swear These Can't be Real’ on YouTube here. ‘Think you know Spain? Think again. Beyond the sunny beaches of Barcelona and the historic plazas of Madrid lies a hidden Iberian Peninsula full of bizarre, surreal, and architectural anomalies that seem to defy logic. In this video, we explore twelve of the weirdest, most unique, and fascinating small towns across Spain, ranked by their sheer strangeness and historical intrigue. Every entry is backed by verified historical records, geography, and local lore’. 

From The Guardian here: ‘Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism. Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism’. 

 elDiario.es has: ’The tour of dead singers: the ethical dilemma of hologram concerts. Argentinian band Soda Stereo’s return to Madrid—featuring the image and voice of the late Gustavo Cerati on stage, thanks to technology—raises artistic questions and moral issues’. 

Some notes on El Indalo, or maybe La Indala, at my blog Spanish Shilling here. 

…...

See Spain:

It is believed that there are around 20,000 castles in Spain, although not all of them have been kept in a good state of conservation over time. Here we visit the medieval Castle of Gormaz, located in the town of Gormaz (wiki), in the province of Soria. It was once Europe's largest castle. More at Eye on Spain here. 

…...

Letters: 

Not much response to last week’s end of the world editorial, apart from someone who thinks it’ll be the Muslims who do us all (yawn!). 

…...

Finally: 

Camarón de la Isla - Volando Voy (1979) on YouTube here.