Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 69

We use recycled paper

OLIVE PRESS

The

Reuse Reduce Recycle

FREE

We chat to the Bond girl who bedded 007 not once but twice

MALLORCA

Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 3 Issue 69 www.theolivepress.es December 6th - December 19th 2019

EXCLUSIVE

See Page 11

party poopers!

Hotels and bars in Mallorca’s top tourist destinations to be handed eye watering fines and shut down in NEW crackdown on boozy Brits

UNRULY: Magaluf clubbers subject to Government ban on rowdy tourists

ALL inclusive holidays at party hotspots will be banned under tough new measures to tackle troublesome tourists being debated by politicians.

The new rules would see balcony jumping tourists sent packing back to their home countries immediately and impose draconian fines on businesses found to be selling alcohol outside of licensed hours.

The zero tolerance approach to badly behaved tourists will target destinations popular with British holidaymakers, including stag do favourite Magaluf, Playa de Palma and Sant Antoni. Under the new measures, bars selling booze after hours could be slapped with crushing fines of up to tens of thousands of euros.

Offending establishments may also

By Gillian Keller and Robert Firth

be forced to close during high season throughout June, July and August.

Hotels will also be targeted as part of the drive and could face hefty fines if they fail to swiftly kick out disruptive guests. The sanctions drive marks a departure from the harm prevention measures that have previously been favoured by the Mallorcan government, such as makeshift first aid units on popular bar strips. Residents of tourist hotspots like Magaluf, Playa de Palma and Sant Antoni have previously criticised politicians for gimmick responses to problem holidaymakers, such as getting British bobbies on the

Sailing into a new storm...

...BUT NOT ON A DONKEY

beat to patrol pedestrian areas during the summer season. An Irish barman at popular Magaluf drinking hole Zeppelin’s Live Music Bar said he hadn’t heard of the new laws, but said he was concerned police might try and misinterpret the new laws to impose harsher fines.

“They never stop. If it’s not the music they’ve got a problem with, it’s something else,” he told the Olive Press.

He added: “If you sell alcohol after hours you should get fined. As long as the police don’t confuse drinking up time with after hours. People get half an hour to drink up. It’s a problem if the police start coming in then.”

Most other bar owners the Olive Press contacted had no heard of them and seemed unfazed by their potential im-

pact. “I’ve never heard of them,” said the owner of JJ’s Sports Lounge in Calvia. He added that he would catch up on the new measures when he returned from holidaying in Tenerife.

The fresh crackdown on troublesome visitors comes as Mallorca tries to reinvent itself as a leading tourist destination following the collapse of Britsh tour operator Thomas Cook. The Balearic Isle was disproportionately affected by the buisness’s failure in September. 1.2 million of the 16 million holidaymakers who visited Mallorca in 2018 travelled with Thomas Cook. The tough new rules are expected to be approved next January and come into force for the 2020 season.

Opinion Page 6

I

T will go down as the hottest decade on record.

With temperatures soaring, both on land and sea, global warming has become a major issue for the world.

With temperatures about 1.1C above the average from 2010 to 2019, desertification has been spreading, in particular, through southern Spain.

The provinces of Granada, Malaga and Almeria are in serious risk, while Murcia and large parts of Valencia are also at risk of semi-desert conditions.

The ‘exceptional’ heat around the world was announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as climate activist Greta Thunberg (pictured) arrived in Portugal by boat en route for a key climate summit in Madrid this week.

The Swede snubbed an offer of a donkey ride from Lisbon to the Spanish capital, preferring the modern comforts of the train.

It would have taken the teenage climate activist more than five days to reach Madrid on donkey back, by which time she would have missed half the summit. She is set to stay in the capital for two weeks, taking part in a huge demonstration this Friday.

Temperature rises are close to the 1.5C warming that scientists insist will cause extreme weather and the loss of vital ecosystems in many places. Other impacts include severe droughts, heatwaves and floods across all continents, and over the seas there have also been heatwaves.

The findings by the WMO show that this year will be the second or third warmest since records began.

So can we save the world? Page 7

How one man and his dog could lose everything in floods Page 4

How protesters exposed hypocrisy of Black Friday Page 10

Iconic Palma pub saved from closure at Page 13 11th hour

Tel: 952 147 834 Local 32 Edificio, Plaça de Portals, 07181 Portals Nous 0034 871 510 277

952 147 834

See Page 2 - 15

TM

2

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Head-on A MOTORCYCLIST has died after crashing headon with a truck near Cap Blanc in Llucmajor.

Police closed off the road for two hours while investigating the crash and ensuring medical aide to the two passengers in the large truck from a construction company.

Extra time AN INMATE at Palma prison has been sentenced to an additional six years behind bars for raping another inmate after threatening him and his brothers, who are also inmates to keep quiet.

Band of brothers FOUR brothers have confessed to burgalaring at least eight homes on the Costa Blanca between 20172018. Two conducted the break-ins, while the others handled sales of stolen goods.

Tracked A CRIMINAL group dedicated to breaking foreignplated car windows and robbing belongings in tourist towns of Denia, Javea, La Nucia, Los Alcazares, Callosa de Segura, Alicante and Ceuti, have been arrested.

Hidden messages THE crimped skirts, green smoothies and exercise tips look like the pages of any glossy women’s magazine.

But read closer, and all is not what it seems.

Because accompanying the luxurious images in the fake Artemis magazine are testimonials of domestic violence, support lines and encouragements to denounce partners for abuse.

The secret publication was a product of a sixmonth project by Denia’s Policía Local’s Unidad Artemis wing for abused women – and results

December 6th - December 19th 2019 show 24 women contacted the numbers in its pages to begin police action against domestic abusers.

The concept was sparked by Denia’s Civil Protection department as they brainstormed how to reach the 80% of women who are killed without having made any prior contact with police.

A total of 70 magazines were then distributed among 18 hairdressers, gyms and social spaces in the Marina Alta capital, according to revelations of the scheme made in the wake of last week’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

End of the road THE leader of a human trafficking gang that packed up more than 100 migrants to the UK between 2017-2018 has been jailed for four years in Spain.

Judges ruled that Iraqi Shwana Rafiq showed no concern for his victims’ ‘wellbeing’ as he hid them inside refrigerated Britain-bound lorries where temperatures are kept at 4C. Shwana was known to ‘beat’ illegal migrants that suffered panic attacks, the Teruel court heard.

The 36-year-old entered a

Human trafficking ring made €1 million from sending Iraqis to UK in freezing trucks guilty plea deal, admitting he played a lead role in the international criminal gang that predominantly smuggled Kurds into Britain and Ireland.

It was a deal that saw his 14 years behind bars reduced to a shocking four.

Police believe Shwana’s gang made earnings up to €1 million from the estimated 100

Arsonist daughter

A WOMAN has been caught in the act by police while trying to set her mother’s home on fire.

A 62-year-old woman violated a restraining order to set her mother’s home on fire in Palma.

The police arrived after a tip that the woman was violating a restraining order, and upon arrival immediately smelled smoke in the building.

migrants brought into Britain between 2017-2018.

The investigation began with the discovery of six Iraqis in the back of a UK-bound refrigerated lorry at a service station near Teruel, central Spain.

Four of the six were children.

They alerted the unsuspecting lorry driver by screaming for help hours after being hidden in the trailer by Shwana when he broke into it and then locked them inside.

The following month, eight Turkish and Iraqi migrants including four children were discovered in almost identical circumstances in a second UK-bound lorry near the same spot.

Policia Nacional said: “The members of the organisation

would try to obtain detailed information about the destination of the vehicles and, while the driver was resting overnight, smuggle people into the cargo hold without him realising.

“The normal length of stay would be between 30 and 40 hours at temperatures of no more than four degrees Celsius.

“The gang was conscious of the risks these sorts of journeys entailed, and they acted with complete disdain for the lives and wellbeing of the people they were trying to smuggle into Britain.

“At times they even resorted to hitting those who had panic attacks while they were travelling or giving them drugs to calm them down.

“The price people were charged increased considerably if they requested the presence of a smuggler inside the back of the lorry to help them.”

drug bust POLICE in the Balearic Islands have smashed a national drug operation and arrested 33 people.

A two-year Guardia Civil probe revealed that a north African gang was selling cocaine, MDMA and hash in towns throughout Mallorca.

A Dutch group in mainland Spain supplied the drugs, which a driver smuggled through the Port of Alcudia using secret cavities underneath his car.

Shotguns

As well as drugs, officers, working under ‘Operation BUBADU’ seized €240,000 in cash, €38,600 of which was buried at a farm in the town of Muro.

Police also recovered knives, fake pistols and shotguns, and several phones and laptops.

In total 14.5 kilos of cocaine, 1 kilo of MDMA, and 3.5 kilos of hash were seized by the Guardia Civil.

The investigation, opened in 2017 saw cops make searches of 28 properties, five garages and a commercial building, across Mallorca, Barcelona, ​​Lleida and Huesca.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es HE’S been truly lighting up the lives of Malaga residents over the last few months.

So it was more than appropriate that Antonio Banderas should switch on the city’s celebrated Christmas lights.

The Hollywood star, who was born in the city, has just opened a new theatre in the city.

Banderas joined Junta President Juanma Moreno and Malaga Mayor Francisco de la Torre (right) at the

IN SPAIN: For spy drama

Colin on the costas OSCAR-winning English gent Colin Firth is shooting a World War II film on the Costa del Sol, but needs some help.

Producers of Operation Mincemeat have put out a casting call for the movie, which sees the King’s Speech star playing the part of a spy.

The film, also starring Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald, tells the story of how the Allies foxed Hitler during the war.

It came when the navy faked the death of an ‘officer’ in the Royal Marines using the body of a tramp, washed up on a beach in Huelva.

The body of Glyndwr Michael was dropped in the sea to be picked up by fishermen, before being handed over to the Germans.

The fake plans in his pocket allegedly showed the Allies would launch a major drive against the Nazis in Greece, not Italy.

Hitler fell for it and moved 90,000 troops from southern Italy, meaning the Allies faced a smaller opposition force when they landed in Sicily.

The incredible case is said to have saved the lives of over 40,000 Allied soldiers.

Based on a 2010 book by spy historian Ben Macintyre, filming begins in March along the Costa del Sol and Huelva.

See Olive Press online for more stories on Operation Mincemeat

December 6th - December 19th 2019

3

Name in lights! annual switch on in front of thousands of spectators.

Speaking at the event, he said: “This is my city and I will always work for it with all the love from my heart.”

It was the first time in recent years that Malaga was without its famous light tunnel, which was this year sold to Liverpool City Council.

Fan of the family Helena Bonham Carter’s grandfather was a Spanish war hero who saved thousands of Jews SHE has become one of the most famous faces on TV screens this Autumn thanks to her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the Crown.

Playing the controversial Queen’s sister in the third series of the Netflix drama, Helena Bonham Carter, 53, shows off the perfect regal poise.

However, it emerges the actress is almost more a Spanish senorita, than a British one.

In a fabulous new documentary, in which she stars, Channel 4 has pieced together the heroics of her Spanish grandfather during the Second World War. Going back to her Spanish roots, we discover that Edu-

ardo Propper de Callejon played a big role in saving thousands of Jews in occupied France.

Then based in Paris, the Spanish diplomat defied his government to provide visas for Jewish families to escape into Portugal.

In one moving scene, Helena met with Martha Bolinski in Bordeaux, whose family were among those saved by Eduardo, and who went on to reveal that her great-grandfather had gone on to become the founder of UNICEF in America after the war.

Eduardo, who was born and studied law in Madrid, died when Helena was just three, leaving her with few memories, so she started her jour-

INTRIGUING: Bonham Carter is inspired by hero grandfather Propper (inset) ney by speaking to her moth- able. conventional war heroes, they er Elaina.

“I think he had a great sense didn't fight in any battles or Elaina revealed: 'My father of what people should do in win any medals, but I want was very secretive, with very life. They would have all died to discover what they did for few friends, he never talked if he hadn't done it.' themselves.' about what he did in his life. As Helena herself explains in During the filming, she travHe was very modest because the documentary My Grand- elled to Paris to explore where what he did was so remark- parents’ War: 'They weren't her grandparents Eduardo, grandmother 'Bubbles' and her mother lived in the 1930s.

They shared the house with an extended family of uncles, aunts and cousins and while life before the war was harHOW on earth does he do it? monious, when war broke out Despite stiff competition from his usual nemesis Cristiano it was fraught as Eduardo's Ronaldo and, this year, Liverpool’s amazing Virgil van Dijk father was Jewish and at risk (right), Lionel Messi (left, with family) has won the Ballon of the Nazis. d’Or for a record sixth time.

The 32-year-old Barcelona star bagged football’s top prize for netting 54 times for club and country over the 2018 to 2019 Punished season.

Undeterred he signed visas “Today is my sixth Ballon d’Or. It’s a completely different mofor hundreds of families, who ment, lived with my family and my children,” said the Argenwere able to cross neutral tinian.

Spain to Portugal, where they “As my wife said, you must never stop dreaming but always were safe. work to improve and continue to enjoy. I am very lucky, I am Eduardo, who died in London blessed.” in 1972 at the age of 77, went Messi finished ahead of Dutch defender van Dijk, who helped on to be punished for his acLiverpool to beat Tottenham in the Champions League final tions, and sent to Morocco, this year. with a ruined reputation.

In third place was former Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who But the demotion had a silver completed a big money move to Juventus this season. lining, because in Morocco Meanwhile American striker Megan Rapinoe, who led the US his Jewish family were out of national team to a second successive World Cup this year, won danger. the Golden Ball award, with England’s Lucy Bronze second.

Another fine Messi

4

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

December 6th - December 19th 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

More trouble for ‘chorizo’ Chaves

7 degrees

ANDALUCIA’S longest-running leader is facing prison over a new fraud probe.

Ex-president Manuel Chaves - who was last month banned from public office for nine years in the ERE case - is being investigated over a €6m public money scandal.

Judge Jose Vilaplana is probing two dodgy loans to a chorizo factory in Jaen.

The factory, Hamsa, was handed the money in an opaque deal in 1999, despite

THE average Spaniard knows around 400 people, according to a new study.

Social circles ranged from a few dozen to up to 2,000, depending on factors such as age, education, income and membership of sports clubs and/or organisations.

Taste of home POMEGRANATES from Elche are being sent out to its citizens residing in other EU countries.

Bare breasts RADICAL feminists staged a topless protest against a far-right march in Madrid, which was marking 44 years since the death of exdictator Francisco Franco.

Flash in the sky A BRITISH Airways flight to Gibraltar was forced to land in Malaga after the plane was struck by lightning.

such payouts being specifically forbidden by the European Commission.

Chaves, who many believe was lucky to avoid prison under the ERE sentencing, ran the Junta for 19 years until 2009, when he moved to join the government in Madrid.

He is being probed alongside former PSOE minister Gaspar Zarrias and a dozen other politicians.

See Reptiles on page 6/7

YOU Sick hunt

DEFENCELESS A BRITISH couple have lambasted Mallorcan authorities for putting them at risk of flooding, despite their repeated pleas for better flood defences.

Expat Brian Gatcombe and his partner Lynn Willis say they now ‘wish’ they hadn’t bought their house in the village of Costitx, after they were put at risk of flooding for the second time in three years.

The couple, who moved to the Balearic Isle from Spain three years ago, say that storm drains near their house are blocked with branches, foliage and a wooden door and that authorities are denying responsibility for clearing it.

When Gatcombe complained to Mallorcan water officials, they told him it wasn’t their job and said he should seek help from the mayor of neighbouring village, Sencelles.

However, in a catch - 22 turn of events, the Sencelles junta then told Gatcombe it wasn’t their responsibility to clear the debris.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s everyone else’s responsibility, nothing to do with me,” said the retired Brit.

“Sencelles told me to get stuffed. All I’m getting is shit in both directions. If the people who are in control take our taxes and don’t do anything about it to keep us safe, what are we going to do?”

He added that the only official who has offered them any support is the mayor of Costitx, Antoni Salas Roca.

“We would normally expect them to totally disregard a foreigner making a complaint, but

Retired couple live in fear of their house being ruined by record heavy rains, after officials play the blame game over responsibility for blocked food drains he has been good.” Brian told the Olive Press.

Mallorca has been battered by storms in the last few days, with a record breaking 200 litres per square metre of rain falling over 12 hours in the town of Soller.

600 homes on the island were left without electricity by the stormy weather.

The couple say they fear a repeat of a few years ago when they had to be towed from their street by a friend, after flood waters destroyed the back wall of their home and firefighters refused to rescue their two beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs.

Sponsored posts on our website with links to your site and with an average of 20,000 page views per day

Fully interactive digital copy of the newspaper containing all advertising seen online globally via Issuu

ur s to Yo ry d 00 er o st ote 0,0 low 2 l om ly fo pr ar ok ne bo ce Fa

r ur ou s Yo ory to er st ed llow t o ee 0 f Tw ,00 7 Our Twitter feed gives users direct access to all our stories and every digital newspaper publ ished

s r r nd ou pe sa in pa ou s s Th view new l of ita g di

te ee ial 00 si Fr tor 0,0 eb i 1 w ed ur ay o -d in r-a to si

vi

When you take out an advertising campaign with the Olive Press, you get a lot more than just the printed newspaper

By Robert Firth

A HUNTER has been filmed dragging a dog along the road by its neck after allegedly beating her to within an inch of her life.

The shocking footage was taken in Galicia, with several witnesses reporting the man having shot his dog to cops.

In the video the hunter, from Lugo, can be heard saying he can ‘shoot whoever the f**k he wants.’

The dog, who had just given birth to six puppies, had a bullet wound and serious injuries to the skull.

She is being treated at the Rof Codina animal hospital, while her puppies have been taken into care, according to NGO Mundo Vivo.

The man could now face up to 18 months in jail and receive a €30,000 fine if prosecuted.

We promote you on our hugely popu lar Facebook page with 17,000 likes and as many followers

The Olive Press gives you more!

Welcome

60€ WELCOME TO THE

back

CASH BACK PROMOTION

to the

60s The more policies you take out, the more Cash you will get back!

#1

Are you already a Liberty Seguros customer?

preferred expat insurer

Take out a new policy: Car, Home, Life or Funeral and get 60€ Cashback for each policy! See how much you could get: + Car

+ Life

=

+ Home

Funeral

240€ CASHBACK * for customers who buy 4 new policies

New client?

The first policy will give you 30€ Cashback and you will receive 60€ from the second policy onwards.

Visit your agent or go to www.libertyexpatriates.es Offer valid from 26th September 2019 to 23rd December 2019. Policies must be paid by direct debit. Applies to new car, home, life and funeral policies only. Not for renewals or replacements.

Conditions and minimum premiums will be applied in all cases. Visit our website or ask your broker/agent for full details.

The Olive Press (ALL EDITIONS) – 342mm x 256mm

04/06 December

6

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION

We want to be eco-friendly but…

By Heather Galloway in Madrid

AT the drop of a hat Madrid has managed to hustle together an alternative venue for the COP25 summit in record time.

And the result is pretty impressive.

Eager for the prestige, the capital put out a call for 2,000 volunteers to help set up the conference in a month when it usually takes two years.

And the army of eco-helpers are everywhere, handing out goody bags while ironically speaking about the need to consume less over Christmas.

“I’m very stressed about it what to do,” said Corina Popa from Romania. “My family is big on Christmas but I’m trying to make it more experience-based, giving things like massages.”

Naturally, sustainability has become a buzzword throughout the city with phases like ‘circular economy’ rolling easily off people’s tongues.

Yet, still the street outside Primark is mobbed and the traffic on the A6 makes it a daily death trap.

“People are lazy about not using their cars,” says volunteer Cristina Gomez. “There’s no excuse. We have a very good public transport system.”

Yes, indeed, except disgruntled workers at the Metro had not read the script and called a strike on only the second day of the summit. It meant the majority of COP25 delegates having to travel back to their hotels in taxis.

At least Greta got there by sail and rail!

Going after the wrong’uns IF the Mallorcan authorities wanted to reinvent the isle as an upmarket tourist hotspot, they’d be better off targeting terror tourists than going after struggling businesses.

Instead, with hotels and bars in popular holiday destinations still reeling from the collapse of Thomas Cook - which brought 1.2 million travellers to the island in 2018 - the government has decided to go after those who are suffering the most hardship.

Let’s remember that those working in the hospitality sector have only just managed to get compensation granted by the courts, three months after the collapse, and it will be still longer before they see the funds in the bank.

Mallorcans’s elected representatives would be better off going after the culprits. It is those who choose to jump off balconies into swimming pools for cheap thrills after splashing the cash on a 14 day all inclusive stay who should (and more importantly who are able) to pay.

Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es Joshua Parfitt Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es joshua@theolivepress.es Robert Firth robert@theolivepress.es Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es

Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

Distribution ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es

Newsdesk: 0034 951 273 575 For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 Head office

Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva Deposito Legal MA: 1650-2019

AWARDS

2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

December 6th - December 19th 2019 The ‘Marques’, the ‘Minister’ and the trade union boss - just three of the 21 senior political figures who turned a billion euros aimed for unemployed Andalucian workers into a ‘reptile fund’ to pay for drugs, fast cars and prostitutes

O

CORRUPT: And now in prison (from far left) Employment Minister Francisco Guerrero, the ‘cocaine chauffeur’ Juan Trujillo

Reptiles

VER €25,000 per month on cocaine, €400,000 for a fake chicken farm and thousands on bottomless gin and tonics.

That’s just a few of the ways €680 million of embezzled Junta de Andalucia cash was spent durSpecial report ing the infamous ERE scandal between 2001 and 2009.

by Laurence Expats and tourists to Spain may have come across the term and perhaps heard the odd anDollimore in ecdote on its significance.

But few will understand its staggering depths of Sevilla debauchery.

Dubbed the ‘reptile fund’ by those in the know, this vast pool of money came from Madrid with severance package from cork production comthe intention of stimulating employment and pany Aglomerados Morel - despite never having aiding ailing companies. worked there.

But, in reality, it was illegally syphoned off to pay He later told investigators he thought the money off friends and key enemies of the Socialist-run arriving into his account was ‘a gift from God’.

Junta, creating what will now go down as the Another neighbour was ‘fired’ from a bogus biggest public money corruption case in Spancompany that he never worked ish history. for, earning himself a €1,100 a Let me explain. ERE stands for month severance package from ‘Expediente de Regulacion de Like a capo from 2003 until 2013.

Empleo’, and is a procedure Deals were notoriously made by the mafia, he which allows companies facing Guerrero with a gin and tonic in bankruptcy to fire workers and ruled the roost hand at his favourite Sevilla resreceive public funding to undertaurant, Cabo Roche, and nearwrite severance and early retirewith energetic by drinking spot El Caramelo. ment packages. Yes, you’ll have But it was in his hometown of aplomb to read that again.

El Pedroso, in the rolling Sierra Most of the payments were Moreno hills north of Sevilla, made off the books and withwhere he was really loved. out any form of public scrutiny and, so far, 500 people have been probed since investigations began in 2010.

Involving seven judges, the tentacles of the scandal are buried so deep that the case had to be broken into 146 different probes.

Playing the role of Robin Hood, he garnered the Finally, last month, the highest-ranking former nickname, ‘the Marques’ and showered resiofficials finally faced justice. dents with millions of euros.

They included ex-president Jose Antonio Grinan, The former mayor, he handed out countless earwho was handed six years prison for perjury and ly retirement packages for locals who had supmisuse of public funds. He was also barred from posedly worked in the nearby Alquife mine - depublic office for 15 years. spite them never having set foot underground.

His successor, Manuel ‘Monolo’ Chaves, was The truth is, almost no-one had. The tiny village given a nine-year ban from public office for lying of 2,000 citizens had only a distillery and a cork to protect his PSOE colleagues during the trial. extraction plant to rely on for employment.

They are just two of the so-far 21 ex-politicians But that was all to change, on paper at least, handed prison sentences and bans from politi- when PSOE councillors Jose Rosendo and Jose cal life. And it has shocked Spain to the core.

Sayago set up a fake network of companies listing dozens of local residents taking early retirement.

In total, the group was paid around €60 million over five years to do nothing.

Regionally, the reptile fund handed out money The ERE scandal began when campaigning in a similar way to hundreds of businesses in judge Mercedes Alaya launched a probe into hundreds of towns and villages. irregularities in the municipal company Merca- It included the formation of dozens of language sevilla. schools, IT and marketing companies and orIt came after two former directors attempted to ganic fruit and veg businesses. Almost all fake. bribe a pair of hotel owners, offering them the So brisk was the trade that a separate company concession for a hospitality training school for a was set up in Sevilla to furnish these ‘firms’ with cool €450,000. computers, desks and filing cabinets… and Unluckily for them, the businessmen recorded even personnel, if none could be found locally the meetings and handed the tapes over to Ma- on the day the inspectors came to visit. drid’s Ministry of Employment, which sent them For that was the deal: you could get a fund of up to the prosecutor’s office. to €450,000 per firm, which would be delivered While the Junta’s then Employment Minis- a few days after an official inspection from the ter Francisco Javier Guerrero brushed it off Junta. as merely a fund which ‘helped businesses As the Olive Press reported a few years ago, a breathe’, Alaya realised there was something truck would arrive with the necessary number of much more sinister going on. desks and computers a day before the inspecWhat quickly became clear was that chain- tion and then return a day later to pack them smoking Guerrero was the man with the keys to away. the safe.

All you needed was a local office which, of Looking like a capo from the mafia, he ruled the course, was easy to find care of the local Socialroost with energetic aplomb, this now put down ist-run town hall. to his €25,000-a-month cocaine habit, con- The money would then be spent on various kickfirmed by his chauffeur in a sensational court backs to key personnel, family and friends. The testimony (more of which later). vast majority, however, was usually squandered He could make anything happen, as long as you on home decorations, foreign holidays and fast played by his rules, voted Socialist and made cars, with El Pedroso’s councillors opting for sure he got his generous kickbacks. family holidays together in Greece and China, He handed out cash from the fund at will, and for example. literally dozens of friends and neighbours benefited.

They included pal Jose Llorente, who received a

The Marques

A judge’s hunch

The Minister

It was Guerrero’s so-called ‘co- caine chauffeur’ who offered up the most de- tailed and scandalous testimony.

Driver Juan Trujillo admitted to judges h o w he spent at least €900,000 of public cash on cocaine, booze and ‘partying’ at brothels with his boss. He was known a s ‘the Minister’ in his hometown o f Andujar, a tiny hamlet north of Jaen best known for being an epicentre for the recovery of the Iberian lynx.

He admitted taki n g €1.4 million in public a i d for business projects which never mater i alised. The grants were given to front companies including Iniciativas Tu r isticas Sierra Morena and Logica Estrategica Empresarial de Trujillo Blanco.

One such business included an a l leged chicken farm, for which he received €450,000. And one of the sacked workers from these firms saw him give €122,468 to his mother. As he IRON awaits his sentence - for more are set to be handed down - Trujillo is LADY: back in Andujar with his wife.

Mercedes “He is well groomed, as always,” one local told a national newspaper, “Like a minister, Alaya in fact, and that’s why we call him ‘the Min- arrives at court ister.’” with her trademark suitcase

The Union boss

Another man yet to hear his fate is Juan Lanzas, a leading trade unionist who allegedly pocketed up to €13 million in commissions for admitting companies into the corrupt network. His mother once boasted to locals in their hometown of Albanchez de Magina, in Jaen: “Mi hijo tiene dinero para asar una vaca,” (my son has enough money to roast a cow... essentially, he had money to burn). And she wasn’t wrong, given this true socialist from the UGT union bought 16 properties with his loot and had €80,000 cash stashed inside a mattress. Despite paying €450,000 to be released on bail in 2013, prosecutors are seeking an eight-year sentence in his upcoming trial. Like any corruption case, there are those who have managed to evade the long - and in Spain’s case slow - arm of the law.

A country in crisis However for the PSOE, the recent sentencing could not have come at a worse time, fresh off the back of the fourth general election in four years which delivered the Socialists a very slim majority. The party is in full damage control as it tries to negotiate an agreement with the Catalan separatists ERC. Its saving grace is that neither the leaders of the PSOE or the party itself (at least there is no proof) used any of the money to enrich themselves. The same cannot be said for the infamous Gurtel case involving the conservative Partido Popular which saw millions spent illegally funding the party while its leaders splashed stolen cash on weddings, fast cars and luxury holidays. But while the ERE architects may have been sharing the wealth to residents in a region often ignored by Madrid when it comes to investment and attention, it’s hard not to think what €1 billion could have achieved… and probably considerably more.

www.theolivepress.es

M

FEATURE

Olive Press7 online

7

ADRID is rocking a rainbow vibe The capital can look forward to a green Christmas as activists and dignitaries from almost 200 countries converge as over 20,000 people look at strategies to avoid on the city for the COP25 cliecocide, writes Heather Galloway in Madrid mate change summit.

It puts our capital at the centre of the global map for the first two weeks of advent, and let’s hope it provides the best Christmas present for Greta and all!

Under a frosty blue sky that somehow seems to bely the global warming issues at hand, an estimated 20,000 participants emerged on Tuesday morning at the IFEMA conference centre where the key decision-making of COP25 is set to take place.

But naysayers would have found it hard to deny the signs of climate change after the president of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, took the floor to describe her country’s ‘fight to the death’ when its capital, Majuro, battled a 16ft average swell that washed through its streets.

“It’s a fight to the death for anyone not prepared to flee,” she pleaded. “As a nation, we refuse to flee, but we also refuse to die.”

Islands such as São Tomé and Príncipe, off the coast of central Africa, are also on the frontline and face floods as often as 10 times a year.

Yet visiting African meteorologist Jose Luis was cautiously optimistic when asked about the future.

“I think everyone knows that the weather is changing,” he told me outside the summit’s key blue zone, which is hosting the main players during the 12-day UN conference.

“If everyone can give the matter real importance, we can achieve the goals. But there needs to be more education.”

It can be hard to make people care about climate change, particularly in countries that have so far experienced less direct ‘change’.

For some, there will always be more pressing issues, as reflected by the current mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida’s thwarted attempt to unravel ‘Madrid Central’ – the restriction of traffic in the central zone implemented by his predecessor, Manuela Carmena.

Despite his endeavours to raise emissions, he has welcomed the summit with open arms, and even went so far as to use the EU’s ‘Green Capital’ title.

Making the eco-credential claims at the Puerto de Alcalá, he soon found activists promptly intervening to change the word ‘Green’ to ‘Grey’.

One critic, Mario Agreda Uzeda, a delegate for CAPAJ, of the First Andean People, insisted the mayor was a fraud.

“I took him to task personally over his statement that he would save Notre Dame before he would save the Amazon rainforests,” he told me.

“He said he had spoken truthfully but that is his truth, not humanity’s.”

Agreda believes that the key to saving the world lies in a system change.

“What I am proposing is a collective in Europe and the Americas that would impose fiscal legislation on multinationals, who basically control everything.

“The future for Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina looks bleak because they have 87% of the world’s lithium and 80% of its fresh water.

“The fight is going to be over these commodities and the local Indian communiUP AGAINST IT: From top to bottom, protestors at the COP25, ties will be displaced as a consequence.” including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg A system change seemed to be what the new President of the EU Commission, Urand Spain can play an important role in “She has been a leader that has been sula von der Leyen, was suggesting when getting behind the Chilean COP25 presiable to move and open hearts for she laid out the plans for the first ever Eudency to push the agenda and increase many young people and many people ropean Climate Law to be put forward in ambitions but so far we all over the world,” Schmidt said adMarch that would make the are not seeing that.” dressing the summit. transition to climate neuOf course, there is still “We need that tremendous force in ortrality irreversible. time for Europe to raise der to increase climate action.”

A leader that “In 10 days from now, the the ante, a speciality of Her presence, which is expected to European Commission has been able to Swedish teen activist be felt by Friday, could be the magic will present the European Greta Thunberg who was ingredient that will nudge the politimove and open Green Deal,” she stated set to arrive on Wednescians into making commitments that boldly on Monday. “Our hearts for many day after hitching a ride will mark a before and after – a point goal is to be the first cliwith an Australian couof no return in the best sense of those young people mate neutral continent by ple on their catamaran words.

2050.” over the Atlantic.

Taking a stroll around the green zone But Greenpeace climate Thunberg’s role in the for eco-enthusiasts plugging sustainspecialist Tatiana Nuño said more conrecent surge of global warming awareability with workshops, etc, etc, this crete timeframes and figures were needness was recognised at the summit by week, there was definitely a sense of ed.

Chile’s environment minister Carolina how and what will incorporate the ‘the “The first day was filled with words exSchmidt who is heading up the Chilean new world’. pressing good intentions but there is an presidency while the country’s president One thing for certain, as the decade enormous gap between the words and acSebastián Piñera sorts out conflict back proves to be the hottest on record, that tions,” she tells the Olive Press. home – ‘not unrelated’, as Nuño points needs to start from next year. And ur“Europe has a chance to lead. Europe out. gently.

So can we save the world?

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Spain’s best English news website

Users

560.7K 1.1 M 1.4 M ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks

JOURNALISTIC REWARDS FOCUSSING on original content is paying dividends for the Olive Press website.

Our continual investment in editorial has seen our reporters covering the Barcelona riots, the digging up of Franco, and this week the COP25 climate summit in Madrid.

And globally - and locally - readers are loving it.

Thanks to over 1,200 links from global sites - including the BBC, Daily Mail and New York Post - we are getting many readers from around Europe and America.

They are now using www.theolivepress.es as THE trusted site for their news on Spain.

It means that our website is ranked officially inside the UK’s, Ireland’s and Spain’s top 1000 sites. Alexa.com continues to rank us nearly three times ahead of any of our rivals in Spain, while our million-plus readers a month continue to help us grow online.

THE COMMUNITY GROWS In further good news the Olive Press continues to grow around Spain - opening its FIFTH paper in Murcia and the Costa Blanca south.

It means our community footprint expands … and with it our network of local reporters and writers.

Supported by our genuine (not purchased) social media following we now have 22,100 Facebook followers and 7,250 Twitter fans.

THE PAPER WITH THE REAL NUMBERS

13,616 # 843

# 952 Our high traffic figures - between 30,000 and 50,000 visits a day means we rank within the top 1,000 sites in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

With our 1.5 million pages read a month, according to official Google Analytics data, even in the depths of the winter we are ranked at 13,000th globally.

THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU… The Olive Press is offering a special BLACK FRIDAY special month deal to anyone who wants to be seen by our millionplus visitors a month. For a special discounted price of just €350 euros a month ! we can ensure that you ALSO get seen onth by our 30,000 Social Media followers AND all m 250,000 print readers. Yes, if your business cannot grow from that deal, then good luck in 2020!

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1 2

- BREAKING: British man gunned down on Spain’s Costa del Sol (21,112) - Arrest made after two British holidaymakers were conned for thousands in timeshare scam on Spain’s Costa del Sol (14,804)

3 4 5

- Woman falls down burst sewer drain, roads closed and drivers rescued from vehicles as Spain’s Costa Blanca put on ORANGE alert following new gota fria (14,447)

- WATCH: Terrifying shootout ‘on the streets of Marbella’ goes viral… but is all what it seems? (14,410) - Spain’s Malaga swelters in winter heatwave (and it continues until Sunday (10,817)

8

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

GREen enErgy promise

SPANISH energy company Endesa will splash half of its investments on renewables in the next few years.

The gas and electricity firm will invest €3.3 billion in green energy over the coming three years totalling €600 million in 2020, €1,000 million in 2021 and €1,400 million in 2022.

The company’s green transition is part of an agreement with the Spanish government to provide 900 megawatts (MW) of the mainland’s energy.

The Italian-owned energy supplier is investing €6.3 billion in Spain over the next three years, almost 15% more than it originally planned to.

Gas level warning

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Easy listening TODAY he is in charge of ensuring hundreds of flights to Mallorca every year run smoothly.

But three years ago easyJet director Johan Lundgren caught a flight to the Balearic Isle’s capital himself. Just prior to turning 50, the Swedish boss of the British low cost airline bought a one way ticket to Palma and set up a music studio. He spent almost a year composing tunes with a friend at the Palma Music Studios, quitting his highflying job as deputy chief executive of travel firm TUI to pursue his second love. The studios have since been frequented by international artists and were used to record the orchestral version of Pink Floyd’s Division Bell. Lundgren recently announced an ambitious plan to make easyJet 100% carbon neutral.

My boy’s back!

THE father of a British boy has been arrested in Spain after absconding with his son nine months ago.

Rafael Jurado-Cabello, from Cordoba, but with British residency, was arrested at Madrid airport after getting off a flight from Mexico with his son Angelo Jurado-Marmolejo.

Angelo’s mother, Karol Marmolejo, said being reunited with her nine-year-old boy was ‘the best Christmas present’.

The boy’s father has been detained under the terms of a European Arrest Warrant, after a joint operation between British and Spanish police. Det Insp Matthew Lloyd, of Avon and Somerset Police said: “Everyone is delighted Angelo has been found safe and well.”

THE EU has issued Spain with a written warning over its radon gas levels due to lung cancer risks.

It comes as the Spanish Government has failed to implement an EU directive on exposure to ionizing radiation.

EU rules stipulate that member states must have a national plan to control the harmful effects of the invisible and odorless radon. Although radon naturally seeps through the ground, high concentrations of the gas, in areas like Madrid and southern Galicia, pose greater lung cancer risks.

The European Commission has also pressed Austria, Estonia, Hungary and Belgium to do more to tackle the threat of radon.

Across

CAN YOU

HELP US?

OP QUICK Crossword 1 Likenesses (6)

5 Unhealthy (6) 8 South-eastern American state (7) 9 From a distance (4) 10 Explosive weapon (4) 11 Control (8) 12 Ripped (4) 13 Sum charged (3) 14 Russian news service (4) 16 One-celled organisms (8) 20 Formerly Persia (4) 21 Before long (4) 22 Forbidden by law (7) 23 Carved image (6) 24 Astute (6)

Would you like to represent our award-winning media group? The ite Olive Press newspaper and webs is currently looking to fill the following roles on the island:

Journalists

• Previous experience necessary • A nose for a good story vital • Not scared to ask tricky questions

SalesodErexliaeblceusatilevs reep in Mallorca

a must • Spanish speaking rience pe • Previous sales ex needed ts vital • Good local contacsential es n • Self-motivatio eded • Good references ne

s then please If you have what it takeletter to jon@ send CV and covering .es theolivepress

OP Sudoku

We need a go

Down 2 Member of the Mob (7) 3 Farewell (7) 4 Snow sportsperson (5) 5 Glitter (7) 6 Move slowly (5) 7 Smallest (5) 13 Prolific (7) 14 Set off (7) 15 Devour (7) 17 Take as one’s own (5) 18 Dogma (5) 19 Collection of maps (5)

All solutions are on page 15

LA CULTURA

Ron’s last dance

A PIONEERING dancer who was the life and soul of the 60s London’s Flamenco scene has died at the age of 94.

Ron Hitchins, known as ‘El Chino’ and ‘The Flash’ by friends in London, was known for his dancing skills and outlandish T-shirt designs that he sold in the East End. The Pena Flamenco de Londres dance IT’S the most wonderful time of year, time to get out and enjoy the local festivities.

From Christmas markets and live performances to skating rinks and special films, Mallorca always makes it a magical season.

We’ve rounded up what’s happening so you can make the most of the holiday season this year: Palma’s Plaça Major, Plaça d’Espanya, Via Roma and the Rambla are all filled with Christmas markets – enjoy handmade sweets while browsing trinkets and toys and traditional hand-carved nativity scenes.

Pueblo Español turns into a charming winter wonderland open daily from December 15.

As one of the most festive ‘vil-

troupe described him as the ‘life and spirit of the London flamenco scene’ and ‘a friend of flamenco all over the world.’

It added that he ‘will forever be in our hearts.’

Hitchens was well known among Andalucians and Gibralterians living in the capital and was regularly spotted at Soho’s legendary Casa Pepe restaurant.

Christmas is coming!

By Gillian Keller

lages’, Pueblo Español has more than 100 stalls and shops filled with fashion, crafts, and sweets and treats of all types – open daily from noon until 11:30 pm. Father Christmas

Franco effect THE number of visitors to the Valley of the Fallen has plummeted by over 50% since the exhumation of former dictator Francisco Franco.

There were 55% less visitors to the basilica in November 2019, compared to the same month in 2018.

also stops by three different times a day for photos with children while he hears their holiday wishes.

The village of Alaró hosts a famous Christmas market on December 14 and 15 with over 60 stalls of hand-crafted goods

and treats. along with high-end fashions. Food trucks, drink stalls and live music fill the weekend with activities for everyone.

Puerto Portals starts its Christmas market on December 18 with dozens of stalls under the stars.

The market boasts some of the highest quality 14,421 people took a trip to the holiday decorations and monument in the eleventh month home goods, along with of the year, compared to 31,951 in an array of international November 2018, according to officuisines. Many of Eucial figures. rope’s favourite holiday Franco’s remains were moved from treats can be found on the valley to Madrid’s El Pardooffer among the stalls.

Mingorrubio cemetery on October Alcudia has dozens of 24, following years of wrangling activities leading up to over the exhumation.

Christmas, including numerous plays and

Elegant sea view villa in Old Bendinat for sale.

7 Beds 5 Baths 620 m² - Constructed 1600 m²- Plot Pool €7.7m Ref: 19021

Luxury Mallorcan villa situated in Old Bendinat, one of the most prestigious residential areas of Mallorca. Boasting beautiful sea views from all living areas, this classical style property is beautifully presented with bright south-facing rooms and oak parquet throughout. Distributed over 3 floors, double lounge and dining room, 7 spacious bedrooms, master with walk-in wardrobes and private terrace. Nicely landscaped gardens, al fresco dining and delightful sea views over the pool. Just 10 minutes to Palma.

Contact Amanda J Butler your one stop property advisor in Mallorca email: ajb@mjcassociates.net or tel: (+34) 690 075 169

9

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Tis the season to see Mallorca, as Papa Noel is joined by festivals, films and food in December productions, a Christmas book decorating workshop for children, and cinema nights. The town hosts a festive fair on December 21, with two bands performing, food trucks full of festive flair, and even a visit from Saint Nick himself.

Port Adriano opens its Christmas park on December 20, with an ice-skating rink, food carts and Santa Claus stopping by daily.

Many other towns including Petra, Soller, Sineu and Inca also throw festival holiday fairs and events throughout December and early January.

Most of the markets and events run until January 6, the day the Three Kings come to bring presents to the local children.

what’s on Tribute time QUEEN Forever, one of the bestknown Queen tribute bands, is back in Mallorca and is performing at the Palma Auditorium on December 13.

Sing-a-long STP is bringing the holiday spirit on December 11 with a Christmas Sing-a-long – bring a donation to the shipyard for the charity Helping Mallorca’s Homeless and enjoy mince pies, mulled wine and holiday tunes.

Dragon race SAILING fans are to rejoice as the Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Race continues with regattas cruising across the bay from December 13 - 15.

LA CULTURA Climagaedon 10

December 6th - December 19th 2019

CLIMATE protestors took over the centre of Andalucia’s most polluted city on Black Friday to highlight the environmental impact of fast fashion.

Schoolchildren participating in Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future teamed up with Extinction Rebellion activists to shut down Granada high street.

Protesters dressed in reclaimed plastic and gas masks for a red carpet catwalk ‘die-in’ along Granada’s Calle Mesones.

They were joined

by Grandparents against Climageddon at the demo, which also called attention to the poor working conditions of garment workers exploited.

Fashion is the world’s second most polluting industry after the oil and gas sector.

The protest came ahead of the United Nation’s climate change summit currently being held in Madrid.

Granada climate protesters expose the hypocrisy of the Black Friday spendathon, writes Jane Brooke

Granada city hall has already declared a ‘climate emergency’ and brought out a new air contamination plan… but so far it’s just ‘hot air’ claim protesters.

“There is no budget and no timetable, it’s not good enough,” insisted writer Phil O’Brien who lives in Granada.

S

HE may be a glamorous, globetrotting Bond girl, but 60s icon Valerie Leon has been hanging out with the British expats of Andalucia.

The forever-young femme fatal dropped into Almeria, dining on seafood paella and champagne to celebrate her 76th birthday, last week.

The Carry On star was in Mojacar, touring her one-woman show ‘Up Front with Valerie Leon’ in which she looks back on a glittering 50year career.

With her natural allure unabated, she takes her hero-worshipping audiences through a multitude of iconic movie and TV moments.

Fans, particularly Bond aficionados, flock to hear her cheeky revelations, including a three-ina-bed scene with Roger Moore in The Saint that she says ‘was completely innocent!’ An unscripted kiss from him in The Persuaders

LA CULTURA

11

December 6th - December 19th 2019

End of an era

Bond and Carry On seductress performs her swansong for a bunch of expats

EXCLUSIVE

By Jacqueline Bragg

and never looked back.

Performing in this pocket of Al- Now a frequent traveller – she meria allows her to catch up with performs live on cruise ships and friends who have lived in the prov- to small theatres nationally in the ince for over 20 years.

UK. Leon embarked “I was rather neron this ‘rather vous at the beginscary’ new career no role to “The world has ning, a decade ago in play, just Valerie the living room of Leon!” gone mad – the same pals.

The Valerie Leon James Bond is in front of me is She then transformed and deconfident, sassy veloped the idea a fantasy and a and full of fun, into the polished as she reveals creation” one-woman show that comedy roles that tours globally. were her favouStarting off as a rites. ‘shy, non-swinging 60s teenager’, She shot to fame with the Hai she got her first break in the cho- Karate aftershave adverts of the rus line in Funny Girl on stage 1970s, which have remained in with Barbara Streisand in 1966 the national memory ever since.

Leon honed her whipping skills for the role with a specialist instructor. “I took the lessons in my garden and noticed that the neighbours were looking out of their windows, perhaps a little perturbed,” she said.

“These newly acquired skills did, however, lead to my part with Peter Sellers in The Revenge of the Pink Panther. A great actor, a wonderful actor and a special man, but difficult. He thought every woman would fall in love with him, but I didn’t!”

She is regularly invited to make guest appearances on TV. In SMILING: Leon with fans at her show ‘Upfront with September this year, arguments erupted worldwide over a potenValerie Leon’ in Almeria

was kept in the final cut, which Valerie says she ‘enjoyed immensely!’

She also worked with Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me as a hotel receptionist before featuring in Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery playing 007.

But Valerie refuses to reveal who she liked best: “They were so different, I will say that Roger was a lot more fun though!”

We meet over dinner following the intimate show in a small venue in Los Gallardos.

She’s statuesque, naturally beautiful (no surgery here), gracious, emitting an aura of youth and vitality, which more than belies her 76 years.

ICONS: Leon (above) with Sean Connery (left) and Ronnie Corbett (below) tial ‘Jane’ Bond film being made, which Leon ridiculed.

She appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside Piers Morgan – where she said: “The world has gone mad – James Bond is a fantasy and a creation – it just doesn’t work for a Jane Bond.” Piers agreed.

Leon added: “I was in mourning, I wore black.

How can Bond be a woman?”

I ask her why she has decided that this gig, here in Almeria, is her swansong?

“I’m 76,” she sighs, but with a bright spark remaining in her eyes: “It’s hard work, but I will admit to you that I have had an offer for a cruise ship performance in August. “When I get such a warm response as I have had this evening – I still can’t believe that

so many people are so interested in my work – I feel a pull…so, who knows, shall we say ‘never say never again?’ Here’s hoping that you carry on Valerie Leon.

Want to know more about Valerie Leon? See her website: www.valerieleon.com

The paper NOT to miss on Mallorca island THE Olive Press is now distributing all over the island in an incredible 500-plus locations.

Found at golf courses, tourist offices, museums and petrol stations, it has become the most sought-after English newspaper in MalAlaro Alcanada Alcanada Alcudia ALGAIDA Andratx Andratx BENDINAT BENDINAT BENDINAT Binissalem Cala Estancia

lorca every fortnight. Look out for one of our many stands, as seen here at Santa Catalina market, in Palma, and in Andratx town centre.

We print between 7,000 to 8,000 copies every issue and take our distribution very seriously,

Aim estage agent Alcanada Golf Spar Tourist Information EROSKI Tourist Information CCA Andratx CAN NATURA Lindew Hotel Real Golf at Bendinant Eroski Aqua Restaurant

EASY TO FIND: Fara Homes in Andratx

Cala D’or Cala D’or CALVIA CALVIA Cala Llamp CAMP DE MAR CAMPOS CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA Can Picafort COSTA DE LA CALMA Costa den Blanes Costa den Blanes Deia Deía EL TORO ES CAPDELLA Esporle Festival Park Inca Inca Llucmajor MAGALUF Maioris Manacor Manacor PAGUERA PAGUERA PALMA

and need you, the readers to keep us informed of numbers... and more importantly if each location needs more or less papers.

We also want to know where you would like to see it and where you don't think we should

Yacht Club Eroski ROSITA RESTAURANT TOWN HALL Gran Folies Golf De Andratx HIPER CENTRO SPAR EROSKI AQUARIUM Ponderosa Beach Bar THE GLASGOW SUNDOWNERS MOODS Robert Graves Museum Forn Deía SPAR BAR NOU Spar Tourist Info Office Barretts Hipercentro EROSKI Golf Club Pontiene Maioris Gof Club Lidl Bar Mingos VILAMIL HOTEL TOURIST INFORMATION BOATHOUSE

bother. Here are a select group of a few dozen key drops.

Please get in touch at Newsdesk@theolivepress.es to find your nearest drop or suggest another.

WELL STOCKED: Stands are always regularly stocked such as Santa Catalina market PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMANOVA PALMANOVA Palmanyola Pollensa

Santa Catalina market Palma University Real Club Nautico First Mallorca Eroski Tourist Office GOLF FANTASIA EROSKI Palmanova Gardens Mari Cunningham Son Termens Golf Pollensa Golf

Pollensa PORT ADRIANO Port Alcudia Port Andratx Port Andratx Port Alcudia Port Pollensa Port Pollensa Port Soller PORTALS NOUS Portixol PUERTOPORTALS

Eroski Sansibar Lidl Cepsa Garage Tourist Office Eroski Real Club Nautico The Stay Hotel Jumeirah NICE PRICE Portixol Hotel Reeves

Advertise with The Olive Press TEL: (+34) 951 273 575 EMAIL: sales@theolivepress.es

12

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Boost for Barca SPECIALIST British student accommodation provider Vita Student has chosen Spain for its first foray into the international market.

The London-based company is set to spend €30 million on building a new halls of residence in Barcelona’s Pija area.

The City Council has given the green light for the firm to transform a 7,000 square metre old educational building into a block of 320 apartments.

For €1,000 a month, students at the ultra-modern accommodation will also have access to an on-site pool and gym.

The business, which was set up in 2013 by Manchesterborn Mark Scott, already has 20 housing blocks in cities across the UK, including Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Vita Student offers students and teaching staff access to personal growth experts and mentoring sessions with owners of large companies to boost their employability.

“We are specialists in giving our residents an experience of education and personal growth,” said Ken Knott, director at Vita Students.

BUSINESS

Adios to Spanish rail French and Italian train companies snap up contracts to run cheaper and more regular services between major Spanish cities from December 2020 SPANISH rail officials have snubbed homegrown firms and awarded French and Italian businesses contracts to run services on Spain’s highspeed train network from December next year.

Adif, Spain’s railway infrastructure manager, dished out contracts to France’s public railway company SNCF and Italy’s Trenitalia.

Spain’s public train company RENFE kept its contract for the busiest route, which will see it operating 48 trains a day.

But other Spanish compa-

Clicking online

nies which were hoping for a slice of the mainland’s railway network walked away empty handed.

The Motion Rail Consortium which is made up of two Spanish firms, Talgo and Globalia as well as private equity providers Trilantic Europe and Andalucian Eco Rail failed in their bids to run train services.

As part of its contract Renfe will launch a low cost highspeed train between Madrid and Barcelona from April next year, with tickets available to purchase from Janu-

ary.

Trains between Spain’s two main cities currently cost €52 on average. The new low-cost service will offer discounts of 40%.

Spanish train bosses say the entry of new operators into the train network will add 66 extra journeys a day across the railway network.

There will be 61 trains between Madrid, Cordoba, Malaga and Sevilla, a 75% increase from the current 35.

There will also be cheaper tickets on both the Madrid to Barcelona line and Sevilla

SPANISH consumers spent 40% more on online purchases last year than in 2017.

The average yearly online spending increased to €1,920 in 2018, with buyers making 50 purchases throughout the year.

Almost three quarters of internet users are online shoppers. And they splashed a whopping €41.5 million on e-shopping last year, an increase of €10.2 million and 24% more than in 2017.

Gen X and Millennials (aged 35-54) made the most purchases, ordering 45% of all items bought online.

Almost three quarters of holiday accommodation and package holidays were booked online.

A further 68% of travel tickets were bought over the internet.

to Valencia connection.

Renfe, SNCF and Trenitalia emerged as winners because they were the only three firms bidding on the lines who already owned their own highspeed trains.

The other competitors would have had to rent or buy their trains, making it difficult to operate them with sufficient frequency.

Divide and conquer SPAIN’S Telefonica has announced an ambitious assets reshuffle in a bid to find an extra €2 billion a year by 2022.

The struggling telecoms giant said an ‘operational spin-off’ of its South American business would allow it to focus on the key markets of Spain, the UK, Brazil and Germany.

After seeing its value plunge 9% earlier this year, the company is relying on its new Telefonica Tech branch, which deals with computing and cybersecurity, to bring in the required cash.

More expats, fewer grades This year the number of non-Spanish students in Balearic schools has risen more than six percent.

Now over 15 percent of nonuniversity students are foreign, many from the UK and Germany.

Around 85 percent of grade four students graduate in the Balearics, but only 68 percent of foreign grade four students graduate.

At the lowest levels in primary schools, the gap between Spanish students and the children of expats repeating years is worrying, although overall fewer students are repeating primary school years.

The use of two languages, Spanish and Catalan, in Balearic school is one of the factors in low grades for foreign children.

Buttie ban

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

A SIX-MONTH chorizo ban at Spain’s biggest carmaker has dramatically cut employees’ cardiovascular health risks.

Some 600 workers were used as guinea pigs in a study that forced staff to ditch mortadella and sausage sandwiches for healthier alternatives.

In a clampdown on company canteens, staff swapped the highly processed meats for whole grain sandwiches with hummus, sardines or avocado.

The initial health ban was then extended to incorporate physical exercise and emotional support.

Hospital Clinic de Barcelona and conducted the research, which began in April 2018.

A total of 300 staff at Seat’s Zona Franca de Barcelona factory and a further 300 at its El Prat site were medically examined before and after the study.

El Prat staff were offered health advice, while researchers trialled several health programmes with the Barcelona group.

Each participant was given five litres of virgin olive oil a month and 30 grams of nuts a day, in a bid to encourage them to follow the Mediterranean diet.

Workers were also supplied with vouchers for healthy supermarket produce and had

Last orders?

HOPE has been offered to hundreds of pub-goers who were set to wave goodbye to a much-loved but doomed Palma watering hole.

Renaissance-themed venue Abaco, which had been set to shut down at the end of 2019 has now been granted a new lease.

The 11th-hour decision sees the bar, located in the historic old town, allowed to continue its successful 40-year spell in the city.

With a huge interior, Abaco sports high ceilings, columns and arches, while its splashes €5,000 a month on fresh flowers alone.

A cornucopia of exotic fruits fills the ledges and even corners on the floor, while tall candles light up the dark coves.

The plan had been for Abaco

seasonal menus drafted for them.

The outcome was a huge decrease in triglycerides, the main component of body fat, while Seat employees’ ‘weight

13

December 6th - December 19th 2019

What’s on for foodies!

Iconic Palma pub facing closure given last minute lifeline

W

oof It Down

to be converted into a boutique hotel by a German investor, and all 17 employees had been made redundant.

But in a last-minute twist, the plans fell through in the final

and waists’ also shrunk.

“This study has achieved an impact at the metabolic level through the Mediterranean diet,” said IrsiCaixa director, Bonaventura Clotet.

month and Abaco has been offered a new lease for another 20 years.

“It’s a miracle that our unique establishment can stay in the city,” said Abaco’s operator Juan José Palao.

He added: “The rent for the bar has quadrupled, but that is the price to pay to keep a longrunning and famous bar open.

“We certainly would not have gotten it cheaper and you just have to see that these prices can be demanded.

“It was just important to us that Abaco continues to exist – what other Spanish city already has such a place?”

Abaco is currently closed for the holidays but will reopen on the last Thursday of January, and plans to run for at least another 20 years.

Wine into water?

SPAIN’S designated drivers will be jumping for joy this Christmas as a new invention that lowers the alcohol content of wine by 30% has been unveiled.

The machine is the brainchild of El Bulli-trained chemist Pere Castells, and can turn a 14% alcohol bottle into an 8% bottle in just five minutes – without compromising on taste.

Bars and restaurants are the main market for the first 1,000 units of the €3,000 machine, which Castells eventually intends to sell to the public.

The inventor, who worked with El Bulli owner Ferran Adria for 10 years, unveiled his contraption at the BBVA Bilbao Food Capital event.

HEAD to The Boat House in Palma to support homeless dogs while enjoying a Christmas lunch, mini quiz and raffle at the Woof It Down Christmas Lunch on December 15

U

gly gin

GRAB your favourite holiday outfit at the OD Port Portals on December 20 for its ‘ugly Christmas sweater party’ at the delicious Burger meets Gin night.

A

lmond milk

MARRATXI is again showing off the island’s famous almonds at its annual Almond Milk Fair on December 15 in Pla de Na Tesa, with tastings and many sweet treats on offer.

14

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Real estate rules REAL-ESTATE agents will soon be held to a new code of conduct as the Balearic Government plans stricter rules for the sector.

There will be a number of measures put in place to strengthen consumer rights and prevent unfair competition in the sector.

In the coming year, the government will agree on minimum standards for the real estate industry,

THE number of mortgages granted has increased significantly this year while house sales have stagnated.

The latest figures for September reveal that mortgage loans surged 10.2% compared to the same month in 2018.

This translates to 21,055 new mortgages, and follows the positive upward trend of August.

It comes after the new Real

requiring agents to have basic training and liability insurance.

There is also a plan to have a generally accessible register of all approved and legal estate agents.

The changes come after an increase in illegal sales and even more issues where the buyer is not aware of some very important details, such as restrictions to properties

Ups and downs

Estate Credit Law this summer saw declines in the number of new mortgages of up to 20%.

Meanwhile, house sales for the ninth month of 2019 stand at 42,538, a 0% change compared with last year’s figures.

PROPERTY By Amanda Butler

Keys Isl nd to the

No bright sparks

As Boris Johnson sets his sights on No 10, Amanda Butler looks towards the sale of one of Mallorca’s grandest homes With less than one week to go until Election Day in the UK, there is still time for public opinion to shift from what appeared to be a substantial Conservative majority. Labour has apparently been steadily narrowing the gap due to its relatively popular manifesto, but continues to suffer from on-going accusations of antiSemitism – and the fact that when it comes to drawing a cross in a box, the electorate

just can’t fundamentally imagine Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. What a shame no bright spark of light has come to the fore to give everyone good strong alternatives, paucity of choice - or even Sophie’s Choice. On the upside for the British market, the pound has strengthened – perhaps upon the expectation of a Brexit deal through a Conservative victory with a safe majority to make it happen at the end of January

Exclusive Seller’s Agent

I reported last month about the drop in real estate sales for the year. Despite an upsurge in the October/November period reported by many colleagues in the industry, I haven’t seen official reports as yet but can’t imagine they will have made a particularly big impact.

Special

Property fraud A MAN has been sentenced to seven years in jail after illegally selling apartments he built without a license.

The ‘real estate entrepreneur’ bought a ground floor flat in Palma, and converted it into four mini-apartments without a building permit.

The property violates several building codes, including lighting, ventilation and electrics, and cannot be retrospectively approved like some other cases.

He sold each apartment

- but will be unlikely to make enough of an impact to incentivise an increase from British buyers quite yet.

for between €65,000 and €85,000 to ‘people with very low income’ – the new owners eventually realized their error and sued the fraudster, who is a painter by trade.

The courts have ordered the man to pay the buyers €300,000 and spend the next seven years in prison in Palma.

The man is familiar with the situation, as he was sentenced to jail in 2004 for an almost identical scam.

BORIS: The British prime minister is hoping for his party to be re-elected with more seats

For me personally, it has been a very interesting few months at the higher end of the market.

I was fortunate enough to be given a rather special property in Old Bendinat as an exclusive sales listing at the end of the summer. Many home owners would not make a choice of this sort - giving a property exclusively to a single agent in the Mallorca real estate market when there are so many agents specializing in many differing markets. Nevertheless, if you don’t live here and want someone to be fully responsible for managing your property, and dealing with multiple agents and viewings, it does make sense.

So I initially set about first valuing the property. At 620m2, it is a substantial seven-bedroom home in one of the most prestigious residential districts in Mallorca. Immaculate in condition and beautifully presented, it is a very elegant property in classical style with sensational elevated sea views. Having performed a market appraisal, I would have valued it last year somewhere in the region of €9m, with numerous other agents in agreement. However, there are a number of proper-

ties on the market at present in this price bracket, and more modern in design, which is the general market preference, which haven’t sold for some time. My owner is wishing to sell sooner rather than later, so we agreed to set it at a keen price of €7.7m, equating to €12.419 per square metre.

Having reported last month on the tendency of owners and estate agents in Mallorca setting values at fantasy elevated levels, we felt this would receive a warm reception particularly since, even in this market, there would be an opportunity to amplify the value of the investment. With a current market preference for more modern designs and for an investment of circa €1m for example, it could almost certainly be re-listed on the market in the region of €12m, equating to a currently realistic €19.354 per square metre, representing a substantial profit when sold.

Christmas

I am pleased to report it has been well received, although there are inevitably the dealers and the opportunists who come in making ridiculous (and rejected) offers - we’ve had a few of those! But so far interest has been very healthy. Although there are no sensible offers as of yet, we have numerous viewings scheduled prior to Christmas. With such a well valued property in such a desirable location, we are anticipating this will sell quite quickly but as always, this remains to be seen. For more information on this property, please see the MJC Associates advertisement of the month, property Ref 19021.

If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

SPORT

15

December 6th - December 19th 2019

Hit home

POINTS BASED DRIVING LICENSE

Nadal’s Spain overturn Great Britain and Canada to clinch sixth Davis Cup title in Madrid

VALID DRIVING LICENSE

You can legally drive in Spain with your existing driving license for the first 2 years of residence, but after 6 months you must register your details with the provincial traffic authorities. After 2 years, you must obtain a Spanish driving license or face a €200 fine. At the time of publishing this article, UK nationals can exchange their UK driving license for a Spanish driving license. However with the Brexit process, we recommend you stay up to date via the gov.uk website. Driving licenses need to be renewed every 10 years up to the age of 65, and then every 5 years.

POINTS BASED SYSTEM

TWO of Spain’s sporting heroes, Rafael Nadal and Roberto Bautista Agut, have overturned Canada to win the Davis Cup on home soil.

Around 12,500 tennis fans packed into Madrid’s Caja Magica arena to witness the country’s sixth title in the competition.

Nadal’s emotional victory (right) over Denis Shapovalov, 6-3, 7-6, saw Spain clinch its first Davis Cup since 2011.

The 33-year-old made it 2-0 against the Canadians, after Bautista Agut, 31, had put the Spaniards 1-0 up against

Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Bautista Agut’s 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory in an hour and 49 minutes was made even more remarkable, given that his father had died three days earlier.

"When you have this moment it is difficult to describe with words - so many feelings, so many emotions you have never felt," said Spain captain Sergi Bruguera.

He added: "Unbelievable.

Imagine Roberto yesterday was at the funeral of his father, now he is here giving everything - the mentality,

Get stuffed SPAIN’S returning football manager has slammed his predecessor after sacking him for ‘disloyalty’.

After taking up

Spain’s top footie job for a second time Luis Enrique said he ‘did not’ want Robert Moreno again as his number two.

OP Puzzle solutions

Across: 1 Images, 5 Sickly, 8 Florida, 9 Afar, 10 Bomb, 11 Regulate, 12 Tore, 13 Fee, 14 TASS, 16 Bacteria, 20 Iran, 21 Soon, 22 Illegal, 23 Statue, 24 Shrewd.

Down: 2 Mafioso, 3 Goodbye, 4 Skier, 5 Spangle, 6 Crawl, 7 Least, 13 Fertile, 14 Trigger, 15 Swallow, 17 Adopt, 18 Tenet, 19 Atlas.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

the spirit, giving everything for his team.

"Rafa, he is out of this world, I don't know if he is an alien or what. Not one day we went to sleep before 3am this week."

Spain progressed to the fiTheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd nals after knocking out a Great Britain side left without Andy Murray due to injury.

Rafael Nadal and Feliciano Lopez beat Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8) to set up a final against Canada, after the semifinal score had stood at 1-1.

Enrique cited Moreno’s proposal to manage the national team until after Euro 2020, and then work as the new manager’s assistant.

“I do not want anyone like that on my staff,” said Enrique, who confirmed he had ‘rejected’ Moreno’s ‘ambition’.

Moreno took the helm temporarily in March, after Enrique’s daughter Xana became ill with bone cancer and then died in August.

Spain has a driving license points system. Drivers start with 12 points and can loose points for fines depending on the severity of the offence. Once you loose all 12 points, you loose your license for 6 months. A traffic offence can be between 2 – 6 points, with a maximum of 8 points in one day. If an offence is severe, it may result in the temporary loss of license.

Keeping all your points will help reduce your vehicle insurance premiums. Some of the offences where points are lost; driving while using a mobile phone or over the

legal alcohol limit is 6 points. Whilst driving without a seatbelt is 3 points.

FULL LOSS OF POINTS If you loose all your points, you will need to complete a road awareness course of a total of 24 hours that can be attended over your 6-12 month ban period. And sit a driving theory test. You can check how many points you have by going to the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) website, and create a password. If you would like some further assistance on this matter, please call our English speaking customer service on 902 325 325.

TM

902 123 282

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com * Fu l l y co m p re h e n s i ve o f fe r v a l i d fo r n e w c u s to m e r s o n l y. G u a ra n te e s u b j e c t to cove r, re p a i r a t a p p rove d g a ra g e, a n d co u r te s y ve h i c l e av a i l a b i l i t y. S u b j e c t to co n d i t i o n s. O f fe r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 .

1

2/8/18 17:01

NEWS IN BRIEF

Seven degrees

FINAL WORDS

THE average Spaniard knows around 400 people, according to a new study. Social circles ranged from a few dozen to up to 2,000, depending on factors such as age, education, income and membership of sports clubs and/or organisations.

Taste of home POMEGRANATES from Elche are being sent out to its citizens residing in other EU countries.

Bare breasts RADICAL feminists staged a topless protest against a far-right march in Madrid, which was marking 44 years since the death of ex-dictator Francisco Franco.

OLIVE PRESS

The

w

FREE

Earning its stripes

MALLORCA

Your voice in Spain

Reuse Reduce Recycle

Vol. 3 Issue 69 www.theolivepress.es December 6th - December 19th 2019

We use recycled paper

expat

Fine mess SPAIN’S traffic regulator has come under fire after a motoring organisation claimed the country’s 90 km/h speed cameras are issuing ‘illegal’ fines.

Automovilistas Europeos Asociados (AEA) slammed the national agency after unearthing laws that allow drivers to exceed the top speed limit by 20km/h when overtaking.

Art. 51 of the law permits the rule-bending – however Spain’s Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) has not

programmed its speed cameras accordingly.

An AEA statement said cameras on motorways were wrongly fining ‘anyone’ travelling above the speed limit without acknowledging overtaking is permitted to 109km/h.

There are 84 motorway speed cameras across Spain that have been included in the statement as issuing the allegedly illegal fines.

AEA said it was aware of sanctions being imposed on any driver exceeding

Flash in the sky A BRITISH Airways flight to Gibraltar was forced to land in Malaga after the plane was struck by lightning.

90km/h on the N-122 in Zamora, in Castilla y León.

The group affirmed the same for speed cameras in León, Guadalajara and Albacete.

They added the most active and potentially offending camera – at KM49.2 on the AP-6 in Madrid – caught 22,551 drivers in the first half of 2019 alone.

The DGT insisted it was ‘not aware’ of the irregularity but it will investigate ‘in the next few days’.

Speeding in Spain can result in a fine from €100-

Spain’s traffic authority in hot water over thousands of ‘illegal’ speeding fines 500, withdrawal of 2-6 points from your license, withdrawal of your driving license and even prison sentences – depending on how fast the driver is going.

Under the stars

A STUNNING photograph taken in Mallorca has earned a place in the prestigious Epsom International Pano Awards.

A photo taken by Spanish photographer Marc Marco of Cap de Formentor has sneaked into the top 15 of the ‘built environment/architecture’ category for amateurs.

The Pano Awards showcase the work of panoramic photographers worldwide, this year with nearly 5,000 submissions, making it the largest competition for panoramic photography.

The photo competition is open to entrants from professionals and amateurs alike.

A BLUE Tiger butterfly from Asia has been found for the first time in Europe in Mallorca.

A resident of Santa Eugénia found the butterfly near her home shortly after it died. She recognized the butterfly as one she saw on a recent trip to India.

Biology professor at the UIB Samuel Pinya explained that “ït is difficult to know how this butterfly arrived in Mallorca, which is quite strange”.

Pinya is also principal investigator of the interdisciplinary ecology group at the University of the Balearics and said they found three possible ways the butterfly could have arrived in the Balearics.

The butterfly arrived either “through the transportation of goods or plants, it escaped from a particular collection, or by the recent trend of releasing butterflies at weddings and special events” said Pinya.

The idea that the Asian butterfly possibly came from a release of the animals is worrying to scientists.

The insects can be ordered online and there are no controls or regulations on doing so.

Pinya said finding the butterfly was ‘a real lottery win’.

Free eye test Including digital retinal photography

Free eye test + 30% off a single pair of glasses from 89€ Request an eye test online at specsavers.es Santa Ponça Avda. Rei Jaume I, 117. Tel. 871 964 331

Jávea Avda del Pla 125, 03738 Tel 966 463 420

Free eye test conditions apply, ask in store for details. 30% off applies to a complete pair of glasses from the 89€ range or above, including lenses and Extra Options. Valid until 31 December 2019. Present voucher at time of purchase. Cannot be exchanged for cash or used with other offers. One per person, at named Specsavers stores only. ©2019 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

OlivePressMallorca_06-12-19_170x256_ESTEST