Lack of a sufficient electrical supply to the ludoteca (games room) and the gymnasium and improvements to the swimming pool water treatment system,as well as beefing up the security of the perimeter fences to dissuade intruders have been quoted as reasons for the closure by Mayor Ramos, but there is also the bureaucratic muddle to be considered, because the municipal company that supposedly was to manage the complex, Santiago del Teide Management, has not yet been formed, and in any case is the subject of opposition from some council members, and is to be further debated at the next council plenary session.

Mayor Ramos , referring to these "small problems", explained, that by a small delay in these early weeks of the project. "It is possible and preferable to fix everything at once"

This was always an ambitious project with almost 5,000 square meters taken over for the facilities which have a capacity for 2,000 people, including two tennis courts, covered swimming pool, infirmary, gymnasium and squash courts.

"Not even one month". commented the spokeswoman of the Socialist Party for the Santiago del Teide local council, Cahora Forte, "Not one month since the complex was opened, although I agree most strongly that the concept of the project is something of which we must be proud", adds. "The hasty inauguration was pure electioneering, because Ricardo Melchior ( one of the dignitaries present at the opening ceremony) was looking for re-eletion to the Senate".

" I am more interested in the plight of the fifteen employees who were working in the sports complex until yesterday", the Socialist has apparently sought information from the labor department of the County council on this point. "This situation is typical of the municipal policy of the Canary Coalition they plan works and do not to know how to manage them", adds Forte.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province was entitiled to elect 3 members to the Senate these were -

Local Turnout was as follows:

Graph showing local voter turnout (right)

"Europe is at risk of being plunged into a mini ice age. We're looking at a drop in temperatures of up to 10 degrees," Said Dr Stuart Cunningham, chief scientist on the Rapid Climate Change Programme Monitoring Atlantic Circulation project at the Southampton Oceanography Centre. "In a worst case scenario this could lead to radical shifts in farming and habitats, as well as altered precipitation patterns and more extreme weather generally - it is difficult to say how long this would last, but the climate could be altered for thousands of years as we have seen in the past."

Measurements are being taken from key points, from the Canaries to the Bahamas, to discover behavioural patterns of currents circulating in the Atlantic, which effectively work as a heating system for Europe. Warm surface water is driven by the wind from the gulf of Mexico, north towards Europe - the warm surface water keeps Europe about five to ten degrees warmer than it should be, given its latitude.

The rising temperatures across the globe have seen an increasing amount of snow and ice melting into the ocean - possibly disrupting the Atlantic overturning-circulation, the process where the water from the Gulf of Mexico cools, sinks and returns south.

"We know that in the past disruptions to this system of currents have coincided with rapid transitions in and out of ice ages," said Dr Cunningham. "Now as climate warms more ice is melting at the North Pole. This extra cold fresh water could halt the overturning circulation, stopping all this extra heat from reaching Northern Europe. There is speculation that this could quickly plunge us into a mini ice age."

The project will take measurements at 22 moorings on the continental slope off Africa, either side of the mid-Atlantic ridge, and on the continental slope of the US. At each point specially developed instruments will be attached to wires up to 5,000 metres long, which will be anchored to the seabed with buoys at the top.

Instruments will motor up and down the wires every two days for the next four years taking measurements. Scientists hope this will give them a real idea, rather than one just based on computer-simulated results, as to the state of the Atlantic currents, which act as Europe's central heating system.

The research is being funded by UK Natural Environment Research Council, and is a joint venture with the University of Southampton.

Oscar Tomás Pérez Rodríguez, head of the Sports department of the Santiago del Teide Local Council announced that for the eighth consecutive year there will be a programme of guided walks in the area entitled "discover your local open spaces" These are held in conjunction with the Environmental Education Company "El Cardón” S.L

There are to be 8 distinctive routes in the series starting this Saturday 13th March with a visit to the Aguagarcía woods:

• Saturday 13th March - Aguagarcía woods
• Saturday 27th March - Caprina Ranch
• 8, 9,10 and 11 of April - Doñana National Park Trip
• Saturday 24th April - Conde Mountain
• 8th and 9th May - Valle de Santiago to Buenavista
• Saturday 22nd May - Flora in the Teide National Park
• 4th and 5th June - Climb to mount Teide
• Saturday 19th June - Cruz del Carmen to Tegueste

The council is committed to this programme, believing that " a better knowledge of our local open spaces, will contribute to the conservation of our environment as a whole. The above schedule will take in the Teide National Park, the Parque Rural de Anaga, the Parque Rural de Teno, the Parque Natural de La Corona Forestal, the Reserva Natural Especial del Barranco del Infierno and the Paisaje Protegido de Las Lagunetas. Also there is a chance at Easter to journey to the Doñana National Park one of the most impressive and beautiful National Parks that there are.

You can sign up for any of the walks at the Sports Council Office at the “Pancracio Socas García” Sports complex in Calle Lajial 8, behind the Hotel Playa de La Arena, by telephone on 922-86-81-08, or by fax on 922-86-81-12.

Those of you in the know will appreciate what a final, definitely the end, last appearance of the MANAGEMENT means to the Los Gigs locals. Well it happened tonight at Pilgrims Bar Playa de La Arena - a cracking night was has by all - cant wait for the next one guys!!!!

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

Locally the Santiago del Teide council have decided to put on a series of events over the following week to celebrate the day (which did somewhat clash with another little celebration going on! (see below)

On Thursday 11th March from 16.30 to 19.00 hours in the Grama cultural centre in Santiago del Teide there is a jewelery making workshop "taller de bisutería y espejos", where ladies will be shown how to make and decorate their own earrings, necklaces and make-up mirrors. Please reserve a place by telephoning 922 86 31 27 Ex 39.

On Saturday 13th March from 21.00 hours in the Plaza Bouganvilla in Los Gigantes there is to be a Bolero Festival, with the singer Cali Fernández and the folk group Garoé.CANCELLED

This years carnival has been a shining example, well run, well attended, and most important of all everyone had fun! Thanks should go to the local police who kept everything in order whilst still managing to remain human!. The Bomberos (Firemen), Ambulance volunteers, Comittee members, the local authority, EVERYONE who made an effort to dress up or took part in some other way. Below we have chosen some of our favourite "moments" from Carnival and there is a full photo report CLICK HERE. So its the time honoured tradition we say goodbye to Carnival with the "widows" wail "Ayeeeee Ayeeee Sardina"

More Photos CLICK HERE

There was a tremendous turn out for the Fancy Dress Ball, and many people salsa-ing to the sounds of the Gomeray and Arguyo bands had made a real effort on their costumes. There was an official fancy dress judging competition, but Los Gigantes Dot Com would like to award prizes (virtual of course!) to its own personal favourite top 3

(Left) 1st Prize to the "Big Black Mammas" Dodie, Carol and crew went the whole hog, accompanied by black-eyed peas of course!

(Above) Any one for Chick-eeeen! 2nd prize to Chicken legs Steve and the rest of the mob from the Shack - no sign of Avian flu here then! (Left) 3rd prize to young Lori from the Bamboo Bar, unfortunately she got left behind because she had to work, but she still entered in to the spirit of things with "Devils Horns and Angels Wings". Plus, any one who can wear those cats-eye contact lenses and still see to serve beer definitely deserves a prize. Lots more Pictures CLICK HERE - see if you can spot yourself!

Juan Damián Gorrín Ramos answers questions about last Friday's incident as well as ongoing plans for the area:Photo: Esteban Perez
"I believe that I acted correctly at the last county council meeting , because the PSOE (Socialist party - Gorrín is a member of the Coalición Canaria) has a spokeswoman - Cahora Forte, and she is the one that must speak for them, not Mr. Ignacio, who tries to interrupt at every single session"

Juan Damián Gorrín Ramos has been involved in the Santiago del Teide county council for some thirteen years , twelve of them, as councilor for (at various times) Sports, Internal affairs and Estates, and almost one year as mayor after the unexpected death of Pancracio Socas Garcia, the last Mayor. Nationalist party member Gorrín has a reputation for stoic patience as he presides over the normally cordial council sessions in Santiago del Teide but something snapped on the 27th February and he ordered a socialist councilor to leave the chamber.

Although the nationalist wants to make his opinion on the matter clear, far from wanting to inflame the controversial situation, would prefer to forget the subject and to speak of present and future projects, such as the new modern sport complex and the plans for a future golf course in the area.

- So What actually happened during the council session of the 27 of February?
"During formal Council sessions both the PSOE and the Coalición Canaria parties have 5 minutes to speak on any matter they wish (this is not as limited as it sounds because matters have been previously thoroughly debated during informative general council meetings, the debated subjects then go through to plenary session.) I believe that I acted responsibly, because during a formal session only the party spokesperson may speak, the PSOE has a spokeswoman who is called Cahora Forte, and she is the one that must speak during their allotted time, not Mr. Ignacio, who repeatedly tries to take part in plenary sessions. I twice called the meeting to order and then when he interrupted for a third time I asked him to leave the room. I have been thirteen years in the county council and I have always respected the rules of the game, newcomers must understand that things are done in a certain way, the only thing that I want is for formal sessions to be held in a composed orderly manner and that each delegate should respect the others, and I try to achieve this without offending anybody. ".

- Recently in conjunction with the Cabildo (island government), the council has opened a wonderful new sports complex, but have failed to put in place the municipal management company to run it, that you had proposed. What has happened?
"the forming of the Santiago del Teide municipal management company has been delayed because the secretary of the county council thinks (like the PSOE) that the best way to go about things is to create a "patronato" (non profit making management organisation - similar to the way charitable organisations are run in UK) instead of a company. There has not been one patronato constituted throughout the entire archipelago during last the ten years and in fact those counties that already have this system such as Arona, are not at all contented with the way it operates. We inquired into the various ways this type of complex might be managed and, although I respect the opinion of the PSOE, other municipalities, Breña Alta en la Palma, el Sauzal, or Santa Brígida in Las Palmas, have kept their sport facilities in good order, using the management model that we propose for Santiago del Teide".

- But the PSOE allege that there are certain irregularities in the documentation required to create this municipal company.
"I do not know of any such irregularity and I went on record in the plenary session as saying to the PSOE that if they found any irregularity they must point it out to the judiciary and if necessary this would be settled in the courts. I can assure you that I never have hidden agendas, exactly the opposite, my actions are well able to be scrutinised. I do what I do for the good of Santiago del Teide. People who know me, know what sort of man I am ".

- What's happening on the Bilma Mountain site?
"the county council has permanently closed certain facilities that were not in keeping with our aim to renovate this area in order to eventually create a theme park".

- You have had a meeting with the Cabildo to instigate a social housing scheme, is this correct?
"the project is already underway, they are 20 social houses already under construction in Puerto de Santiago and a total of 53 houses are planned for Tamaimo. We already have the plans in place for a site located on the outskirts of the town. I hope that with contributions from the Cabildo as well as this council that this project will get underway during this year ". [you can read more about the social housing scheme by scrolling to the bottom of this page http://www.losgigantes.com/outnaboutarchDec2003.htm]

- Do you have a date for the completion of the Lido to be built on the Puerto Santiago border ?
"This project, speaking in pesetas, had a short fall of about 200 of the 650 budgeted million required to implement it, but recently we have reached an agreement with the Cabildo so that they will contribute half and this council the other. This year, probably will see the commencement of the project and it will be completed by 2005-2006 at the latest".

- It seems that plans to construct a golf course are going ahead , in spite of socialist opposition. Do you truely believe that the local population want an infrastructure of such magnitude in their area?
"A golf course is going to be good for the municipality as a whole. The Santiago del Teide residents association and the town populace in general, as far as I am aware, are in agreement with the proposed work, that by the way is environmentally correct because developed almond and fig trees are to be left untouched and incorporated into the design of the course. The plot of land concerned has already been acquired , by the company that is to construct the golf course, but of course everything depends on surveyors reports and the final plans once they are submitted for approval".

System failure Interupted Telephone (and Internet ) service for the Canary Islands for at least 2 hours and in some places longer yesterday.

Thousands of automatic cash dispensers, electronic mail and mobile telephones were out of action yesterday morning after a failure in two fibre-optical cables, interrupted telephone services to the Archipelago. According to the Telefonica company, services were recovered in two hours, although there were reported problems for longer periods in some areas.
The problem was located on the mainland, more specifically in two cables near the areas of Chipiona and Antequera (Seville), which had been severed by two excavating machines working in the area.

A representative of the Government of the Canary Islands,councilor for Public Works, Antonio Castro Cordobez, informed yesterday that he has opened an investigation into the causes of the failure and to determine what type of measures can be undertaken to avert this kind of thing in the future.

1st prize of 300 euros went to “ reflejos en sepia”[Reflections in Sepia] by Juana Padilla

2nd Place and a prize of 210 euros to “ Indomable” by Wilfredo Simón Sosa and 3rd place and a prize of 150 euros to Francisco Morales Villegaswith "FM-2". there was a runner-up prize of 6 0 euros awarded to "Los Baldíos” de Elisa Blanco Gestal.

The competition was judged by the mayor Juan Damián Gorrín Ramos, the councilor for culture, María Candelaria Pérez García, and Fernando José González Correa anf Begoña Curbelo Santos, professional photographers and Domingo González, from the Colectivo Arguayo.

The works are on view to the public in the Town Hall until the 5th of March and then in the Museo del Pescado (Fisherman's museum) in Puerto de Santiago.

For those English speaking residents and visitors who have noticed the rash of political posters and banners which have appeared on our streets, and have perhaps wondered what its all about, Los Gigantes Dot Com is happy to provide the following basic run down. [Los Gigantes Dot Com has absolutely no political bias in any direction, any ommissions or errors are entirely accidental and will be corrected if pointed out.]

The Canary Islands are divided into 2 provinces Santa cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. The full list of Candidates for our own Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife can be found here http://www.elecciones.mir.es/web2004mir/candidatura02.htm

Government spokesperson, Eduardo Zaplana, announced on the 9th of January that the general elections would be held on Sunday the 14th March. This will be the ninth time general elections have been held in Spain since the end of the Franco era in 1975. After an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on the 19th January, the president of the Spanish government, José María Aznar, formally asked King Juan Carlos for permission to dissolve the current parliament and convoke general elections. The president of Andalucía, Manuel Chaves, has announced that the regional elections in Andalucía will be held on the same date.

Parliament Basics:
Las Cortes Generales (The General Courts) have two chambers. The Congreso de los Diputados (Congress of Deputies) has 350 members, elected for a four year term by proportional representation in each province. The Senado (Senate) (http://www.senado.es/constitu_i/index.html site in English) has 248 members, 208 members elected for a four year term in four-member constituencies and 40 members designated by the regional legislatures.

The Spanish have been called to the ballot box on 14th March in order to re-elect both Chambers of Parliament. José Maria Aznar, who has been Prime Minister since March 1996, announced that he will not stand and after having spent eight years as head of State has chosen to retire from national political life. In a few weeks time a new figure will be responsible for representing Spain and this will almost certainly be either Mariano Rajoy, leader of the Popular Party and successor to José Maria Aznar, or José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, secretary general of the Socialist Party (PSOE).

Parliament (Cortes generales) comprises two Chambers: the Senate and the Congress of Representatives. This comprises three to four hundred MP's elected at least every four years by proportional vote (except in Ceuta and Melilla) within the Spanish provinces. Each of the country's fifty provinces has at least two representatives (one each for Ceuta and Melilla), the remainder being divided amongst the provinces depending on the size of the population. The average number of seats per constituency is 6.7. A list has to win a minimum of 3% of the vote in order to be represented in the Congress of Representatives.

Twelve political parties are represented in the present Congress of Representatives:

- The Popular Party (PP), Prime Minister José Maria Aznar's Conservative movement founded in 1977 and in power since 1996;

- The Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), the main opposition party founded in 1879 and that governed Spain from 1982 to 1996. It is led by José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero;

- Izquierda unida (IU), a leftwing electoral alliance born 1986;

- Convergencia i union de Catalunya (CiU), a Catalan electoral alliance founded in 1978, led for a long time by Jordi Pujol but now led by Artur Mas;

- The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), a Nationalist Christian Democratic Party founded in 1984;

- The Galician Nationalist Block (BNG), a nationalist party founded in 1982 led by José Manuel Beiras;

- The Canary Island Coalition (CC), a regionalist movement allied to the Popular Party in Parliament;

- The Andalusian Party (PA), a party for whom the main claim comprises the autonomy of Andalusia;

- Esquerra republicana de Catalunya (ERC), a leftwing Catalan movement created in 1931 that dominated the political scene until the start of the Spanish Civil War. The party is led by. Josep Lluis Carod-Rovira;

- Iniciativa per Catalunya-Els Verds (IC-V), an alliance of Catalan regionalists and ecologists;

- Eusko Alkartasuna (EA), a nationalist, social democrat movement that was born of the division of the Basque Nationalist Party founded in 1986;

- Chunta aragonesista (CHA), a regionalist nationalist party for a greater autonomy of Aragon.

The Senate comprises two hundred and eight members elected by universal suffrage (provincial senators) and forty nine representatives appointed by the 17 autonomous communities (community senators). Each province elects four provincial senators whatever the number of inhabitants and except for Ceuta and Melilla that elects two and the Balearic and Canary Islands that elect three for each of the major islands (Grand Canaria, Mallorca and Tenerife) and one for the smallest (Ibiza-Formentera, Menorca, Fuerteventura, Gomero, Hierro, Lanzarote and Palma). Each autonomous community elects a community senator as well as an additional senator for each million inhabitants.

The senatorial elections take place on the same day as those for the Congress of Representatives. The vote is also plurinominal, except for on some islands.

The present political situation

José Maria Aznar has remained faithful to his promise made in 1996 that after two mandates at the head of government he would not stand in the following general elections. "I have the honour and pride to have served Spain. I am leaving but my conscience is clear and is serenely proud and satisfied. I honestly believe that in 2004 Spain is now a better place than it was in 1996," declared the Prime Minister. He will be replaced as head of the Popular Party by his former vice president Mariano Rajoy. This 48 year old Galician has occupied a number of ministerial positions during the eight years of the Aznar government (minister of the Civil Service, Education and Culture, Home Minister), in 2000 he became vice president and then in July 2002 government spokesperson. The leader of the Popular Party will confront the 43 year old leader of the Socialist Party, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was appointed just after the last elections on 26th March 2000.

The Socialist Party recently came to an electoral agreement with the Greens. This agreement plans for four members of the ecologist movement to be included on the socialist lists during the election on 14th March next. Two Green representatives will be placed eighth on the electoral lists in the general elections in the provinces of Seville and Valencia and two others third in the partial senatorial elections in the region of Madrid and the province of Teruel. An ecologist representative will also be amongst the first twenty candidates on the PSOE list in the European elections in June next. The ecologists led by José Maria Mendiluce, have no representative to date in the Congress of Representatives or in the Senate. Total uncertainty surrounds the possibility of a coalition between Socialists, Communists and the Catalan Nationalists is concerned.

The Popular Party that has been at the head of the country since 5th March 1996 has not really experienced any waning in its power. Over the last two years the Conservative party has however had to face some political crises. The General Strike on 20th June 2002 against the reform of unemployment benefit led to a government u-turn in the following autumn and the suppression of nearly all of the decretazo, decrees that had been the source of the biggest popular movement since economic transition. On 19th November of the same year the sinking of the Prestige off the Galician coast led to a major oil slick. José Maria Aznar and his government were criticised for the management of this ecological and economic crisis. Although six months later the Socialists won most of the big towns in Galicia during the local elections on 25th May 2003 (Corona, Vigo, Lugo and Santiago de Compostela), the Popular Party retained Orense, won back Ferrol and remained in the majority in Muxia, three towns on the coast where the ship was wrecked.

Last year the Prime Minister supported the Anglo-American intervention in Iraq and did not hesitate to go against the opinion of most of its citizens (90% of the Spanish said they were against this position on several occasions) who were the greatest in number in Europe in mobilising against the war. The population did not hold this position against José Maria Aznar and his government since the Popular Party still won the local elections on 25th May 2003 although they have lost 6% of their electorate since the last local election in 1999 - this time round they won a greater number of town councillors and more votes in the major towns than the Socialist Party. The Popular Party also came out victor in nine of the thirteen autonomous communities in which the regional elections were held on the same day.

For their part the Socialists have also experienced internal problems. In less than a year they have come through two political crises. Whilst on 25th May 2003 the PSOE, in alliance with the Izquierda unida (IU), just managed to win the region of Madrid (56 seats in comparison with 55 for the Popular Party), the defection by two Socialist representatives during the first meeting of the new Regional Assembly enabled the Popular Party (PP) to win the presidency of the region. Following the deadlock of the institutions after this vote the regional Parliament was dissolved and new elections, called for on 26th October - these were won by the Popular Party with 48.45% of the vote (57 seats), versus 38.97% for the Socialist Party (45 seats) and 8.49% for the Izquierda unida (9 seats). In May the Socialist Party justified the defection of its representatives by a conspiracy that was supposed to have been concocted by some real estate businessmen, who were close to the Popular Party and opposed to the arrival of a leftwing movement in a position of power. The work undertaken by the parliamentary enquiry commission responsible for this affair during the summer did not manage to reveal the existence of any type of corruption. The political scandal was finally fatal to the leftwing who were punished by 4.4 million voters in the Madrid region.

More recently Catalunya experienced problems. On 26th January the head councillor of the Catalan Government, Josep Lluis Carod Rovira, president of the Esquerra republicana de Catalunya (ERC), a leftwing movement, admitted having had secret meetings with the leader of the Basque terrorist movement ETA.. Whilst José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, condemned this meeting he believed that it was up to Pasqual Maragall (PSC), Socialist president of the Catalan government to settle this problem before requesting the resignation of Josep Lluis Carod Rovira. The head of the Catalan executive accepted the departure of the government's number two from his position but maintained him as a minister without a portfolio within his government. Josep Lluis Carod Rovira was to lead his party's list during the general elections on 14th March next. The Socialists then showed how embarrassed they were and the difficulty they were experiencing in positioning themselves on this subject that was nevertheless the subject of a consensus amongst the population. Indeed the fight against terrorism is a policy that is embraced by both the ruling power and the opposition.

The Socialists seem to be confident about the regaining power. "We are capable of winning a great enough majority," maintained their Secretary General. José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero also announced that the first law that his party would vote in once in power would involve domestic violence which is suffered by a great number of women (according to statistics, 30,000 cases of domestic violence were recorded in 2003 and 70 women were murdered during the same year during arguments with their partners). The Socialist leader also promised to bring Spain out of its "isolation" into which, according to him, it has been led by José Maria Aznar after supporting the American intervention in Iraq. "I want to be president of a government that will take Spain out of the Azores trio (allusion made to the meeting between José Maria Aznar, George Bush and Tony Blair on 16th March 2003). I want to see my country allied to Lula, Kofi Annan, Lagos and Jacques Chirac," he declared, accusing the Aznar government of having "fractured Europe". The head of the opposition who assured the military of his total support announced that he would order the withdrawal of the troops deployed in Iraq if the United Nations did not take the situation into hand. A contingent of one thousand three hundred soldiers is stationed at present in Iraq.

At the beginning of January José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero presented his campaign team, comprising ten politicians including Pedro Solbes, the present European commissioner for economic affairs and Miguel Angel Moratinos, former European envoy in the Middle East.

The election stakes

The Socialist Party chose the reform of the State as one of the themes of its electoral campaign, suggesting the increase in competencies of the country's 17 autonomous communities and to transform the Senate into a Chamber of Territorial Representatives. The PSOE reform aims to improve the representation and participation of the Spanish regions and plans for the direct and permanent participation of the autonomous communities in international organisations, notably the European ones and the institution of an annual conference between the regional presidents and the head of central government. The Socialist measures suggested when the Basque government launched a true wave of revolt against the State were the source of a controversy that the Popular Party did not hesitate to stir up. Indeed on 25th October the head of the Basque executive Juan José Ibarrexte made his plan, called Ibarrexte, official claiming a status of "free association with Spain" for the Basque Country, full prerogative in some areas (justice, immigration, etc.) and above all the right to self determination and therefore a change in the status of autonomy dating back to 25th October 1979. "We, the Basques, have old historical rights and we now want to exercise that sovereignty," he declared. In order for this project to be adopted it requires approval by two thirds of the Spanish Parliament, a revision of the constitution and ratification by referendum - it was rejected by two of the country's major political movements. At the same time the support provided by José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to Pasqual Maragall, secretary general of the Catalan Socialist Party and his desire to review the status of Catalunya was the source of a certain amount of disquiet within the Socialist Party that was not quelled when the second in command of the Catalan executive met recently with the leaders of the Basque terrorist organisation ETA..

Within the PSOE differences have emerged on the conception of the unity of the States that José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero seems to find difficult in calming. Mid January, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Ibarra, Socialist president of the Estremadura, suggested the exclusion from the Congress of Representatives of movements who only win 5% of the vote. This proposal that would result in the exclusion of all the nationalist parties from the Chamber was immediately rejected by most of the Socialists but increased the impression of confusion that reigns within the main opposition movement and increased doubts about the PSOE's abilities to face those in favour of Basque or Catalan independence.

The Popular Party, that has tried to focus the electoral campaign on the country's unity and on the Spanish territorial model, has asserted its desire to maintain regional autonomy as defined by the Constitution in 1978 and has warned the population against "the adventure" that an increase in autonomy would represent. "The PSOE is no longer a national party. It has seventeen programmes, one for each autonomous region," repeat the Popular Party candidates. On the 25th anniversary of the Constitution, the Carta Magna, on 6th December last, José Maria Aznar positioned himself firmly in favour of the 1978 text and warned of the danger that those he qualifies as "revisionists" i.e. the Basque or Catalan nationalists, are bringing to bear over Spain's future.

José Maria Aznar composed his own eulogy a few weeks ago. "Since 1996 4.3 million more people are at work in Spain, unemployment has dropped from 23% to 11%, the economy has grown by 64% and the revenue per inhabitant has increased by 36%. Spain needs the Popular Party's guarantee to continue on the road towards progress and institutional stability. We were elected to respect our commitments and not to disappoint and I am asking you not to forget this on 14th March when the well being and prosperity of all is at stake," he declared. Although this assessment is certainly biased the good health of the Iberian Peninsula’s economy is a reality. Hence since 1997, average growth has reached 4% of the GDP (2,4% last year, in comparison with 0.5% in the euro zone). However, much still needs to be achieved in the social sphere: Unemployment is still the highest in the EU and the number of unstable jobs is great (30%). A recent study by the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona revealed that between 1993 and 2001 the weight of social expenditure in comparison with the GDP has decreased from 24% to 20.1% and that the country's differential with the European average has risen from 4.8 to 7.2 points. The economic crisis, the creation of jobs and security are the major issues at heart in Spain. The Socialists find it difficult to lay down a real alternative in terms of these problems.

According to all of the opinion polls the Popular Party is far ahead of the Socialist Party. The most recent survey undertaken by Sigma Dos and published by El Mundo on 8th February indicated that the Popular Party would win 44.3% of the vote versus 34.8% for the Socialist Party. The daily comments the survey as follows: "The Popular Party is certain to win but José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero might stop prevent it winning on overall majority.". We should also say that the number of people who are undecided is still quite high. Polls forecast that the small parties will progress. Izquierda unida (IU) might win between 8 to 11 seats, the Esquerra republicana de Catalunya (ERC) might increase from 1 to 4 seats and the Canary Island Coalition (CC), allied to the Popular Party in Parliament might win five representatives. Finally the Popular Party's candidate Mariano Rajoy achieves the best score in terms of image in comparison with his Socialist adversary José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (5.25 points, versus 4.59). The electoral campaign will officially start on 27th February and will end on 12th March. Parallel to the general election there will also be regional elections in Andalusia. source http://www.robert-schuman.org

HOME