Spain Papers Review - Friday February 19 2010
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By h.b. - Feb 19, 2010 - 7:34 AM
The economy and José María Aznar dominate the papers this Friday

El Mundo headlines that the Bank of Spain has worsened the data given by Zapatero in the Congress debate on the economy on Wednesday. The Bank thinks there will be a further shrinkage of 0.5% in GDP this year and no net creation of employment. They also expect the debt to rise 12 points to reach 67% of GDP.
ABC notes that with the Secretary of State for the Economy in the United States, the IMF has made it clear that Spain has nothing to do with Greece.

El Mundo notes that José Blanco has opened the talks on setting up a pact with the opposition parties on the economy, but did so denouncing the ‘egoism and greed’ of the Partido Popular leader.
La Razón says that Zapatero’s anti-crisis pact has started by denying the PP, and that Salgado called Rajoy to invite him to the Moncloa only five minutes before announcing the visit to the press. The paper says the Government phoned all the parties except the PP to inform them of the content of the debate last Wednesday.
El País says that Zapatero is opting for an alliance with the CiU and the PNV for the anti-recession deal, and that Elena Salgado has summoned Rajoy for the talks.
Público notes that too and says that 68% of PP voters want to see a pact.
ABC highlights the Prime Minister’s decision to give the job of setting up the talks to Blanco, Salgado and Sebastián. The paper considers that is to the detriment of De la Vega and Corbacho.

Many papers highlight the appearance of José María Aznar at Oviedo University. Applauded inside he was met with protestors outside who called him a war criminal among other insults. El Mundo is among the papers to show the photo of the ex Prime Minister sticking a finger up at the demonstrators. He told them there were some people ‘who cannot live without me’.
El País highlights that quote and has a large photo of Aznar sticking his finger up.
Público has a large front page photo of the finger in the air with the caption ‘The education of an ex Prime Minister’, adding that minutes earlier he had been pontificating about ‘moral authority’, only to respond to students’ protests with ‘an obscene gesture’.

Público highlights three judicial rulings which have gone against the Partido Popular in the Constitutional and Supreme Courts. They are the Matsa case against Manuel Chaves, El Cabanyal where Camps and Barberá cannot demolish the area of Valencia they wanted, and thirdly the block on the merger of the savings banks in Galicia.
El País notes the Constitutional Court has suspended the merger of the savings banks in Galicia.
ABC claims the Government is using the Constitutional Court to block the initiatives from the PP regions.

La Razón says that the Catalan Government is obliging the public to inform them on businesses which are not correctly signed in Catalan.

Público notes that Andalucía has become the first region to guarantee a right to housing by law.

In international news:-
El Mundo notes that four European governments have demanded explanations from Israel about the killing of the terrorist Mahmud al Mabhuh in Dubai.
El País leads with the story and says the killing of the Hamas chief has opened a crisis between Israel and the E.U. The paper reports that the head of the Dubai police has accused Mossad, the Israeli secret service of carrying out the crime, and notes the assassins used fake passports from four European countries.

El Mundo reports that Barack Obama welcomed the Dalai Lama by the back door yesterday. It notes that Beijing has spoken of its ‘deep discontent’ at the visit. El Mundo has a photo, as the paper puts it, of the Dalai Lama next to the White House rubbish bins.
Público considers that Obama gave only lukewarm support to the Dalai Lama.

El País reports that a massive cyber attack has seen the data of 100,000 internet users stolen round the world. More than 74,000 computers have been infected in 196 countries.

La Razón says that ETA has intended to move its bomb factory from France to Cataluña.

Público notes that Facebook is to prohibit access to the under 14 year olds.
La Razón notes new classifications from the Ministry for Culture will see films with sexual content apt for 12 year olds.

And finally,
El Mundo notes that the Cibeles fashion show in Madrid has opened, with ten young designers presenting their most daring collections. The paper also considers the irreverence of the modern art fair ARCO in Madrid.
ABC has a front page photo of the Prince and Princess of Asturias who passed by the ABC stand at ARCO after opening the fair yesterday.
La Razón too with a large front page photo of the Prince and Princess smiling at the art of ARCO.

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