In just under two weeks, Spaniards will be voting for the government to preside over them for the next term. As ex-pats, we do not have the right to vote so we cannot be blamed for influencing the result.
According to most sources, It is almost a foregone conclusion that Marioano Rajoy’s conservative party will take control. In 2004, his party were defeated because people believed that the centre-right government of José María Aznar had lied in its response to the Madrid bombings, blaming them on the Basque separatist group Eta and not on al-Qaida. Many are convinced that allowed José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his socialist party to win the election.
In 2004 times were good, Spain was pouring half of all the concrete used in Europe to satisfy what Spaniards thought was a never ending market for new houses. Any politician was going to look good in those circumstances, it is only when times are tough that they need to show their mettle.
I fear that those who are pinning their hopes on a change of government bringing about a speedy return to good fortunes may well be disappointed. The Americans, who thought that Barack Obama was going to bring a return to good times in the USA, are now siding against him. Things may turn out to be much the same for Marioano Rajoy who has already lost two elections to the Socialists. I hope I am proved wrong, I really do.
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