Politics

A grant allocated to the poorest, which is supposed to be their only income, was not paid regularly on August 1st as the Catalan Government changed the payment method. The official explanation is that the change was taken to avoid fraud and be able to ensure the sustainability of this grant system. From now on, the 37,000 beneficiaries will have to personally go the bank with a pay check that will be sent to them. In mid-August, most of the beneficiaries had already received the money. The opposition has heavily criticised the Government, which has recognised errors but stressed that many people were getting money without meeting the conditions. 500 beneficiaries and social workers protested on Thursday in Barcelona.

Rubalcaba’s proposal to redefine the current Provincial Councils in Spain seems to be on the same wave length as the Catalan Government’s run by the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalists (CiU). The Catalan Vice President, Joana Ortega, states that this level of government needs to be reorganised. The Catalan Socialist Party emphasises that Provincial Council’s powers and funds should go to the municipalities.

The president of the United States called on Monday evening, the Spanish Prime Minister to discuss the world economic situation, focusing on two main themes, the evolution of debt problems in Europe and the United States, and the growth of world economy.

Mas told reporters that he does not enjoy making such cuts but they are necessary to keep Catalonia from bankruptcy

Lex Writer Richard Stovin-Bradford argues in an interview with the CNA that Catalonia “is adopting strong measures” to cut its deficit while some autonomous communities “have not yet reduced the spending” as much.

The conservative leader, Mariano Rajoy, says the new government will have a “very difficult task because Spain has many problems”. Catalan nationalist Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida argues that Zapatero’s decision will bring “stability” to the economy.

Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announces that Spaniards will go to polls four months earlier than scheduled. The Spanish Parliament will be dissolved on September 26. The election will be a contest between former Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba and conservative Mariano Rajoy

The Minister of Public Works, José Blanco, announces his desires for the first stage of the project, linking Valencia and Barcelona, to develop in September. The train that will connect the main Mediterranean cities with Europe by rail is a "priority", says Blanco.

Catalan President Artur Mas will give full support to the next Spanish government if it accepts a new fiscal arrangement for Catalonia. Mas says his party, the centre-right nationalist Convergència i Unió, is the only political force able to become a counter-power to the Spanish conservatives, the most likely winners of the next general election

"Catalanophobia exists" and "Catalonia has to communicate its ideals if it is to be understood by the rest of Spain" says the socialist candidate to the next Spanish general elections

Robert Casajuana warns, however, that Spain is "getting dangerously close" to offering yields of 7% for 10 year bonds, the point, according to him, "of no return"

Characterised as one of the most powerful men in combating the Spanish financial crisis, Catalan President Artur Mas presents his forceful economic strategy to the US newspaper

László T?kés, from the Hungarian minority in Romania and member of the European People’s Party, supports the “linguistic rights” of minorities in front of a European Union “sometimes too ignorant”. “I don’t like integration being replaced by assimilation”, he stated.

The President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, supports the Union for the Mediterranean initiative. The UfM decided to build its first project in Gaza: a desalinisation water plant and distribution system. Abbas will meet with the new Secretary General of the UfM, Youssef Amrani, who took office last week.

The deal introduces new restrictions on public spending while protecting health, education and social services. The conservatives have asked the Government to change its foreign policy strategy and make it more commercially oriented.