So, I was looking for the biggest news stories in Spain today and came across this little gem, published by typicallyspanish.com. Spanish newspapers are doing it for themselves and instead of working from news feeds and all of that - they decided to headline what they really wanted to headline today. Love that. So below is a breakdown of what everyone thought was relevant, newsworthy, immediate and too delicious to not comment on.
Today's PúblicoAll the papers go their own ways today with a host of different front page storiesEl País leads with the headline that Obama has noted light signs of recovery of the economy. The paper reports that Washington has detected improvements in construction and consumer demand. Both Obama and the President of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, have coincided in giving messages of ‘moderate optimism’
El Mundo headlines that the Prime Minister, Zapatero, is turning to the left, and counting on the support of the ERC, Catalan Republicans, IU, left wingers and the BNG, Galican nationalist to keep his minority government in power.The paper says that the laws on abortion and religious freedom have been promised to them this year, and Zapatero has underlined his policies against the crisis are based on ‘solidarity’ and ‘social commitments’.
El País notes that the Basque deputy, Eduardo Madina, has now risen to number two in the PSOE Socialist party in Congress. It comes as Ramón Jäuregui features on the candidate list for the European elections.Público leads with the future of the COPE radio presenter, Jiménez Losantos. The paper headlines ‘The preacher entrenches against the Bishops’. The radio network is owned by the Catholic Bishops in Spain who have finally indicated they want him off the morning slot following his frequent ranting, and several successful slander cases against him. The paper says he said on air yesterday that he is putting the matter in the hands of his lawyers, and is blaming Rajoy, Gallardón, the Crown, and Carndinal Cañizares – ‘who has gone to the Vatican to cry.’Losantos said ‘The Bishops don’t know what they want. Without me COPE will go and fry asparagus. If the owners want to risk the future of 900 families, that will be their decision’.
Ignacio Escolar has a piece in the Público paper today, entitled ‘The squatter in COPE’.El País says that the Government is planning a public television service, almost without advertising. The Prime Minister announced what he called a ‘drastic reduction’ in the amount of advertising.
El Mundo notes that the Basque Regional Police, Los Ertzainas, have complained that there are not enough of them to protect the members of the Basque Government, presided over by the Socialist Patxi López. The paper says he is demanding 1,200 Ertzainas work as bodyguards in the region as security is stepped up.
El Mundo has a large front page photo of the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, shaking hands with Miguel Sebastián, the man who was his opponent in the municipal elections in 2007, and who is now the Minister for Industry. The paper says it has taken just under two years for the two men to return to cordiality.El País notes that the prosecutors’ office wants to question the PP leader in Valencia, Francisco Camps, over his suits, allegedly obtained as part of backhanders for contracts. The paper also notes that the PP National Treasurer, Luis Bárcenas, is still under investigation also as part of the Gürtel case.
El Mundo reports that the leader of the Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy, is to ask in Congress that the Minister for Defence, Carme Chacón, explain the allegations against the CNI, Spanish security service, and its director Alberto Saiz. It’s alleged he used the infrastructure of the department to go hunting and fishing in Mali, Senegal and Mexico.El País has a front page photo of Hawa Meint Cheik, the mother who has been charged for forcing her 14 year old daughter to marry a 40 year old man. The prosecutor in Cádiz wants her held in prison considering there is a risk of flight, while she has called for ‘respect of her traditions’.The woman who comes from Mauritania faces 17 years in prison.El Mundo continues with its allegations about the Madrid Train Bombings fugitive, Daoud Ouhnane.
The paper says today that he was identified at least two years before the Interior Minister said he was. The paper claims he was recognised in Algeria in 2006, and judge Del Olmo was informed at the time.El Mundo notes that the Government has pardoned the deaf and dumb mother from Jaén who hit her son.And the first gay domestic violence fatality is reported across the press. El Mundo says the man killed his ex husband in Adra, Almería and then committed suicide.In international stories:El Mundo report that the Vatican has vetoed Caroline Kennedy as being the United States ambassador, because of her defence of abortion.El País gives the story prominence also and says that Pope Ratzinger, in an open campaign against abortion worldwide, will not entertain an ambassador known for her progressive position on civil rights.
(ABC pdf not updated today)
