Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight.

And, lo, has caught the sultan’s turret in a noose of light!

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable

Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain’

Cosas de España

Politics Past: The Left (PSOE) betrayed women in Spain; now they face a reckoning, says this disgruntled woman.

Politics Present: Says the FT here: The manner in which Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Socialist prime minister, announced a snap election left his country – and his own ministers – in shock, and underscored a leadership style that even his left-wing allies call reckless and autocratic. . . . It is widely seen as a desperate gambit to save his political career and stop internal party moves against him. HIs last bullet, says El País.

Says the VdG: The new call to the polls has stopped several bills, both social and economic, dead in their tracks. Of the first type, legal initiatives on the family, prostitution or wiping out cancer have been frozen. Among the latter type would be one amending the pension reform, one that would apply changes in the Civil Service Law to improve the lives of civile servants or the bill to compensate farmers for the drought. The announcement has caused cancellations in Galician tourism and queues to vote by mail. And above all this, there is a frenetic activity in the parties because they have to play on two levels: that of pacts to govern now in towns and regions; and that of creating candidacies and alliances for the general elections in July.

Nonetheless . . . Bring it on!, says the PP leader.

Politics Future: Vox’s role as kingmaker takes centre stage, says the FT here. Vox has long criticised the PP as a spineless establishment party and staked out antagonistic positions on immigration, feminism and globalisation that are unpalatable to many mainstream conservatives. An awful prospect.

Me:

1. The theme of the PP party for the general elections of July will be ‘Sancho or España’. So, an existential one, based on personalisation – If you vote for Sanchismo, you’re voting for the break-up of Spain. This was first voiced by Ayuso back in 2021 and has now been successfully road-tested, both in Madrid and nationally. However ridiculous it might be, it’s likely to be effective in July as well. Hard to see the PSOE staying in power.
2. The Ciudadanos party seems to to be even more moribund than I thought. It won’t be fielding candidates in July.

Otras Cosas

When I told my daughter that kids in Spain consume more than twice the maximum amount of sugar recommend by the WHO, she replied: ‘In what country don’t they?’

Be warned . . . Things tourists – or me/you – can be fined for in Spain:-

• Using 1 or 2 earphones when either cycling or driving your car.
• Taking a selfie during the running of the bulls in Pamplona
• Smoking on certain beaches
• Urinating in the sea off the Galicia coats. Near Vigo, at least.

I mentioned that my 4 year old grandson and his schoolmates are greeted by very loud pop music when then arrive at 9. Today, we attended an interactive event there, involving the toddlers and relatives. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to find it was accompanied by a real DJ, providing the inevitably loud banda de sonora/soundtrack.

The UK

A columnist had complained that, when he collapsed at a London Tube station, Nobody bothered to help. This would never happen in Spain. Despite them being lovely people, I do find the Spanish inconsiderate towards strangers at times but, against that, they do make the world’s best Good Samaritans – as I’ve discovered when I’ve tripped over something or fallen off my bike. The columnist asked: What have we become when our own lives and priorities subsume the needs of others? Have we really turned into a “walk on by” society, or was I just unlucky? Could it be fear of litigation in a litigious society? Where teachers don’t dare touch pupils who’ve hurt themselves. Or comfort them if, like my bereaved grandson, they’re occasionally tearful in class.

The EU

Sr Sanchez won’t be popular in Brussels . . . Spain’s snap election imperils the EU’s imminent lawmaking marathon.

Russia v Ukraine

In Mr Putin’s warped mind, invading a country and killing thousands of its inhabitants seems to be seen as an act of benevolence, while sending a few drones in useless retaliation is ‘terrorism’.

The Times cartoonist on this:-

(A)GW/Energy

The UK: Labour’s net zero obsession will make blackouts a certainty. . . Wind and solar power alone will not be enough to keep the lights on . . . The UK is set to be unique in banning the development of new oil and gas fields while remaining reliant on foreign imports. More here.

Finally . . .

A Brazilian chap took rather violent exception to his wife coming only 2^nd in a beauty contest. If you can’t see the video here, try here.

For new readers:- If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here. If you’re passing through Pontevedra on the Camino, you’ll find a guide to the city there.