Balearic Bliss, Cover Photo Cat Milton, 1st March 2016
Anarchy 4 Esp
We Are Balearic! Spanish politics in limbo land he termed its “current situation of a government and be voted in as as PSOE leader Sánchez fails to In celebration of Balearic Day 1st March we pub- impasse and rectify the consequences Prime Minister. Though the incum- lish a 4 page Guiri ‘History Bluffer’s’ Guide to the form government Balearics. leader Pedro Sánchez delivered his of the past four years of Popular bent PP won the election in Decem- Stark Balearic Naked—The theory that our investiture address in Congress on Party (PP) government.” ber in as far as polling the most name is derived from its naked inhabit- Tuesday. Speaking to the deputies of the lower votes, they fell a long way short of ants. house (think MP’s and the House of the majority needed to govern. No Cash, Just Wine & Women—Early Bale- In his 90 minute speech the socialist aric bartering. party leader talked of “a government Commons) Sánchez called for the Sánchez has agreed coalition terms Sling For Your Dinner-How Balearic kids of change and of dialogue” promising support of the other political parties with new kids on the centre right (Continued on page 2) earned their daily bread. that it would save Spain from what that will be required if he is to form The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818 also online at theibizan.com Page 2 News
The Electoral Commission has launched a 2,600 Ex-Pats Regis- global campaign to encourage an estimated five million Britons living overseas to check their eligibility to vote ahead of the referen- tering Per Day, In dum on EU membership. The British Ambas- sador Simon Manley, visiting Malaga on “Less Time Than It Tuesday said “Whether you think the UK should remain in or leave the EU, the 23rd of June will be your chance to have your say. Takes To Make A Cup This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the British people to decide.” Of Tea” If you have been on the UK electoral roll The announcement of June 23rd as the date within the last 15 years, you are eligible to for the Referendum on the UK’s member- vote. The electoral commission’s latest mar- ship of the European Union has triggered a keting promises that online registration is a surge in the numbers of British expats want- simple process, quicker than making a cup of “A government of change ing to register to vote. tea. Latest figures show the average daily rate of For full details of how to register and eligi- online registrations by Britons abroad has bility see our online guide at and of dialogue” quadrupled from an average of just over 600 http://theibizan.com/ PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez addressing Spain’s deputies. Credit per day before the announcement of the communityandadvice/guiri-guides/eu- J.J. Guillén the leaders of other par- referendum date last weekend, to more referendum/ ties to offer their re- than 2600 per day since then. (Continued from page 1) sponses. political block Ciudadanos but will still Acting PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy need the support of other parties if he is addressed Congress first, followed by to fulfil King Felipe VI’s invitation to Pablo Iglesias, leader of the anti-austerity form a government. left-wing group Podemos. In his speech, translated by El Pais, he Both went to great lengths to distance said ““Eighteen million Spaniards voted themselves from Sánchez. Rajoy ridiculed for the current government to not contin- the PSOE leader and Iglesias called ue. Eighteen million Spaniards are expect- Sánchez “miserable” at one point. The PP ing a different government, one that will leader described the Socialists attempts to repair the consequences of the mistakes form a government as a “farce.” Iglesias that have been made and clear the path said Sánchez had “surrendered to the for different, and better, policies.” oligarchs and the powers that be.” The most-repeated word during the The leader of Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, speech was “change,” and Sánchez made took on the role of peacemaker, appealing it clear that he considered himself the only for dialogue and accord. He accused the solution to the inconclusive December PP and Podemos of trying to derail “an elections. agreement that represents nine million He repeated previous statements preclud- Spanish voters.” New Ibiza Office of to the problem of foreclosures." Sans also ing any possibility of a partnership with The debate, which continues throughout announced the next meeting of the Bureau the PP, stating time and time again that Wednesday, is likely to see Sánchez lose Housing Rights Opens of Housing, which will bring together the his government must be formed with par- the first investiture vote. The Minister of Land, Transport and En- councillors of Social Welfare and Urban ties that want change, not the status quo. As it stands, he is unlikely to win a sec- ergy of the Balearic Government, Joan Planning of the different municipalities of “Do we want a government based on ond vote on Friday, at which he needs a Bonet, together with the President of the island. "Housing in Ibiza has become a agreement? Yes or no?” he asked the as- simple majority to be successful. Even Ibiza, Vicente Torres, and the Vice Presi- problem of unacceptable, proportions and sembled deputies. with the support of Ciudadanos, Sánchez dent and Minister of Housing insular, we must find solutions," said Sans. Without mentioning them specifically, will only count on 130 votes from the 176 Viviana Sans, were in attendance to pre- The Minister of Land, Transport and En- Sánchez launched an appeal to anti- needed for an absolute majority during sent the official opening of the 'Balearic ergy of the Balearic Government, Joan austerity left-wing group Podemos, men- Wednesday night’s vote. Institute of Housing (IBAVI) to Ibiza, Bonet, said that the opening of an IBAVI tioning proposals such as an emergency On Friday night, when the PSOE leader which will also host the Office of Housing office in Ibiza is "the fulfillment of a cam- plan for 750,000 families in need, among only requires more votes in favour than Rights. The first vice president of the paign promise, and a commitment to at- others. All of these proposals, he ex- against, it will still not be enough to be Consell, Viviana Sans, who also presides tend to the housing problems of Ibiza’s plained, could be put into place the very successful in his bid to lead the govern- over housing matters in the Island gov- citizens. " next week should Podemos make way for ment. Depending on the outcome of this ernment, explained that the office will The office opened to the public on March 2, and is located on the fourth his investiture by abstaining during the week’s sessions in Congress, Spain could offer a service that is "global, integral, floor of the Consell offices on Avenue vote. be looking at fresh elections later in the and will promote actions to develop poli- España in Ibiza Town. Open from 9am to 2pm Mon to Fri, Tel: 971 784 994 or On Wednesday morning it was the turn of year. cies on housing issues and find solutions email The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818 also online at theibizan.com Page 3 News
All night supermarkets around the Egg and in the backstreets of San Antonio will not be able to sell alcohol from midnight to 8a.m. Vericad Meets Animal Rights Groups Es Vedra Goats Ibiza’s Minister of the Environment, Miquel Vericad, has held talks with three representatives of animal rights groups fol- Retail Booze Ban Mid- Editorial Comment lowing protests against the culling of the goats on Es Vedra Gibbs which were held in front of the Consell HQ in Ibiza Town. In many ways this feels like one of those classic Ibiza political During the meeting, Vericad is said to have expressed issues that is not being honest with itself. In terms of the “understanding and respect” for the views of the activists, night to Morning stating that he understood the decision taken by the Ministry Feb 26, 2016. San Antonio Town Council have today outcome, i.e. a dry zone when alcohol cannot be purchased from venues or retail in the early hours of the morning, the of Environment of the Balearic Government has hurt the passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol initiative is very much in line with the stated political objec- sensitivity of many people in Ibiza. He went on to explain that from Midnight to 8am throughout the municipality. tives of the San Antonio leadership in improving the town’s the practice of culling is “commonplace in wildlife control”, The new regulations have been driven through the coun- image and reducing its reliance on what it perceives as lower and defended scientific and technical reports that support quality tourism. As from the implementation of the regula- this action. Vericad warned of spreading false stories about cil’s agenda as a matter of urgency following recent cases tions, tourists will no longer have the option to carry on the events that occurred in Es Vedra, saying that is was irre- of minors being found drunk in the town. Though under drinking on the streets when the bars close via a trip to one sponsible to exacerbate the mood surrounding the affair of the several all night supermarkets in the town. With the through what he termed an “unfounded rumour mill”. age drinking is the cause, and there is no suggestion of ban starting at midnight, it is likely to be welcomed by the Representatives of the animal rights groups were not swayed any connection to San Antonio’s party tourism reputa- town’s bar owners who have complained with what many see in their view that the culling is totally unjustiable, though as justified cause over the increasing regulations limiting they did condem those responsible for the death threats and tion, the move is bound to have an effect on some retail their trade in recent years. insults the minister has received on social networks. establishments noted as all night off licenc- s a regulation to curb the drunkenness of es in the town during the summer months. underage teens, one has to question how this Combining the ban with the stricter regula- change will have any effect whatsoever.” tions already in place for the closing times “A of bars and clubs, it will be perhaps the first time that the Had the regulations been proposed on those two grounds it would seem likely that the voting citizens of San Antonio, and town will have ‘dry’ hours during which alcohol cannot the vast majority of the business community would have supported the initiative, with only those few who earn a liv- be purchased from any outlet. Speaking of the initiative ing from the late night retail booze trade opposed — and of Councillor Juanjo Ferrer stressed that the regulations course those tourists who enjoy taking some cans to the beach to watch the sunrise, but let’s face it, they are unlikely are designed to “protect the health of our children and to carry much sway in the corridors of power. ensure public safety is maintained.” But as a regulation to curb drunkenness of underage teens, one has to question how this change will have any effect The ordinance was passed with all party consensus and whatsoever. Though the memory of such teenage shenani- now has to wait for a one month public consultation peri- gans may be growing dim, my recollection is that whatever cash you had available would be spent in one hit from wher- Load of Bollards od for any objections before being passed into law. Es- ever you could obtain the illicit liquid, and it would be spent The bollards recently added to Ibiza airport’s transit car lane tablishments selling alcohol will then have one month to long before midnight. If the true focus of the restriction were have been upsetting pretty well everybody it seems. Now San to be on curbing underage drinking, surely a more effective José town hall have joined the chorus of voices asking for put the regulations into place or face fines ranging from approach would have been in stricter policing of the sale of their removal. 350€ to 1,500€. alcohol to minors at any time of day? Whilst accepting it is An online petition is active here disrespectful and unhelpful to our hosts to refer to ‘things http://chn.ge/1Qnx0gM The possibility of placing a ban on the opening of new being better in the UK’, the system of proof of age identifica- tion how mainstream in Britain is one example of how that Bodegas was considered infeasible due to Bodegas being issue can be addressed. Importantly in that type of system it covered by exactly the same licence as supermarkets and does also give the unwitting shop/bar keeper a degree of protection rather than having to rely on their ability to cor- other food shops. rectly assess the age of people who are at an age when they The news sparked considerable debate following our are trying every trick in the book to look a few years older than they actually are. online posting. Many people seemed determined to use There was nothing I read in reports of the recent cases of the story as a tool for berating San Antonio’s tourism teens being found drunk in San Antonio that said their drink- ing had commenced after midnight, but there is a general reputation, seemingly ignoring the publicised local fac- view in not only San Antonio but throughout Ibiza, that alco- tors behind the Council’s decision. hol is very easy to come by for teenagers, surely that is the issue, not the time they buy it. Local Businessman and West End Bar owner Nathan In that respect I cannot help feeling that behind the closed Viva responded in defence of the council’s initiative. doors of those town hall corridors of power, the politicians could not believe their luck in being handed a reason to im- “This is good for san antonio, not bad. shops illegally pose a back door restriction on drunken tourism, without having to stand up and say that is what they were doing. selling alcohol after midnight has been a real problem Ultimately teenagers will obtain alcohol. Though it may be and has been an unenforceable law for years as the local harder to do so in the UK with the ID system in place, nobody would argue it has stopped teenage drinking. Teenagers government were not allowed, legally, to enforce it via drink for one reason only. Because they can’t wait to grow up. the local police. This has lead to people being able to buy They see adults drinking, and marketers sell it as an attractive and glamorous adult pastime. In that we need to take a col- drinks in shops and then drink in the street rather than lective responsibility in educating our children about the bar environment that has made Ibiza a tourist desti- ‘responsible drinking’, but therein lies a problem. Such is the inner need to rebel in the teen DNA that any such advice can nation in the first place. No one is "losing their liveli- actually be counter productive and make the peril warning all hood", we, as bar owners, are merely getting what is the more attractive. That is something greater minds than mine could not resolve in the 16 page limitations of this legally ours back: the ability to sell drinks to our custom- newspaper any more than I think San Antonio town hall have ers rather than have a shop open up next door and sell achieved in these hastily drafted and imposed regulations. One final observation. Anybody who has been on the streets under the counter for a fraction of the cost paying much of Barcelona in the early hours of the morning will know that less in taxes and ruining it for everyone. the standard offering of illegal street traders is overpriced cans of beer. One thing we are not short of in Ibiza is illegal This is a law finally being enforced to the benefit of the street traders. Let’s see how that one works out. whole town and not anything negative at all.”
The Ibizan, Thursday 3rd March 2016, Issue 818 also online at theibizan.com Page 4 Stevie D’s, Expatacular!