From typicallyspanish.com
Spain Papers Review - Tuesday June 24 2008
By h.b.
Jun 24, 2008 - 9:41 AM
El Mundo headlines that Zapatero has changed his speech, but still only announced cosmetic changes to face the economic crisis. The paper notes the Prime Minister has now spoken of ‘serious difficulties’ and admitted that there will not be work for every one, just four months after promising full employment. The paper says his only austerity measure is a 20 million cut in public sector spending in 2008.
El País leads with Zapatero admitting the seriousness of the crisis and demanding austerity from everyone. The paper says that the government has taken away 25,000 job offers in the public sector for next year.
ABC notes that Zapatero reduced the forecast for growth at a meeting with top Spanish businessmen yesterday.
Público considers that the crisis has forced Zapatero to take action, and La Vanguardia says that Zapatero has admitted the economy is at a halt.
El Mundo has a front page photo of Mariano Rajoy in his office with his new number two Maria Dolores de Cospedal. First day back in the office.
El País says that Rajoy has buried the line placed down by Aznar because ‘Spain has changed’. The paper notes that Esperanza Aguirre, sidestepped at the PP conference, has declared that the party activists support her.
ABC leads with an opinion poll carried out for the paper. It headlines that the congress strengthened Rajoy but 70% of those questioned think that the critics will start their action again.
28% of PP voters see a lack of union the main problem for the party.
Público says that the new PP has buried Aznar and La Vanguardia considers the change in direction of the PP is obliging the Government to change its strategy.
EL Mundo continues to publicise its Manifesto for a Common Language – to stop what it sees as the political discrimination against Castellano. It’s led by UpyD member Savater.
The paper says more than 10,000 readers signed up to the initiative in the first 12 hours.
El País reports that Europe has prohibited the largest bank in Iran from operating here. It’s part of new sanctions against the country because of its nuclear program.
El Mundo tells us that 16 million people in Spain saw the penalties at the end of the Spain –Italy match in Euro 2008 – and that makes it the TV moment with the largest ever audience in Spain.
79.9% of TVs on at the time were tuned in.
El Mundo notes the hero of the hour, the Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, has said that he does not think he is a hero. ‘I’ve only done my job’, he said.
El País says that the Spanish manager, Luis Aragonés, has said that ‘Casillas is a 10’. The paper also notes Cesc who took the winning penalty admitting that it was the first penalty he had taken since he was 15 years old.
El Mundo says the PSOE Socialist party kept the Mayor of Estepona, Antonio Barrientos on its candidate lists after knowing about complaints about him had been placed before the Anti-corruption prosecutor and the police. This story was carried by the local press some days ago.
Público notes that a European crusade against file sharing and eMule is now threatening Spain.
And finally,
Plenty of good coverage and rave reviews for Bob Dylan who started his Spanish tour in Zaragoza last night. El País tells that he even smiled.