Stepping out for Grey Power
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the newspaper for southern spain Appeal 18 Three-year-old Torrox boy needs years life-saving in English treatment in Free Copy October 2nd to 8th 2009 www.surinenglish.com the USA Crime Nueva Andalucía collects signatures against spate ofbag-snatching Concerned by an apparent in- night in September the attacks on crease in theft, residents and busi- elderly foreign couples have been nesses in Nueva Andalucía have “practically daily”. They point taken petitions with 301 signa- out that most cases have involved tures to the local municipal offices handbags being snatched as the to draw attention to the situation. victims leave a bar or shop, often Locals explain that in the last fort- in Calle Miguel de Cervantes. Protest 10 Valle de Abdalajís The undisputed market leader and favourite read*, residents go on reaching more than 260,000 expats every week in hunger strike to Malaga alone (*IPSOS independent research) THE AGE OF CONTENTMENT. PENSIONERS IN MALAGA WORK UP AN APPETITE FOR BREAKFAST. ÁLEX LOBERA demand water Third agers all over Spain celebrated International Pen- Stepping sioners Day this week with some impressive displays of fit- ness and joie de vivre in a variety of workshops and activi- ties organised to mark the event. In Malaga, amongst other out for activities, hundreds walked along the Paseo Marítimo to the Civic Centre where they were served a healthy breakfast. It was also announced this week that more public-funded care grey power homes for the elderly are needed in the province of Malaga. 2 SUR IN ENGLISH OCTOBER 2ND TO 8TH 2009 News Foreign aid Spanish foreign aid budget escapescutsin Government raises taxes new bill EFE Foreign aid is one of the few areas not subject to cuts to help reduce deficit in the austerity budget Spain’s Socialist govern- ment submitted to Parlia- The proposed recovery. ment on Tuesday. This is the first budget prepared Spain will devote 0.5 per budget bill for by Salgado, who succeeded Pedro cent of the nation’s gross Solbes as economy minister in domestic product to foreign 2010 was April. assistance in 2010, consis- The austerity measures include tent with Prime Minister presented to freezing the budget of the Span- José Luis Rodriguez Zapa- Parliament on ish royal family at this year’s level tero’s goal of boosting for- of 8.9 million euros, while salaries eign aid to 0.7 per cent of Tuesday amid for Zapatero and other top officials GDP by 2012. will remain what they were in The amount allocated for criticism from 2008. development aid stands at The government slashed re- 4.2 billion euros, but totals the opposition sources for an immigrant aid fund 5.1 billion euros if the pre- by 50 per cent, to 100 million euros. dicted debt forgiveness and COLPISA / EFE Because the Socialists are seven other contributions are in- seats short of a majority in the cluded. The proposed tax hikes in the 350-member lower house and can Foreign aid rose from 0.2 budget bill announced by the expect no help from the conserva- per cent of GDP in 2004 - Spanish government and pre- tive Popular Party,the administra- when Zapatero took office - sented to Parliament on Tuesday tion will need support from to 0.5 per cent this year, and have drawn heavy criticism from smaller groupings to get its budget the Spanish government in- both the main opposition party, approved. tends to raise it to 0.7 per the conservative PP, and the left- PP leader Mariano Rajoy said cent of GDP by the end of wing Izquierda Union. the government’s bill will result the current administration, The general value added tax CONTROVERSY. SALGADO HAS DEFENDED THE ANNOUNCED MEASURES. EFE in “more unemployment, more scheduled for 2012. (IVA) rate, currently at 16 per deficit and more taxes”, and ac- Within the realm of mul- cent, is due to rise to 18 per cent to a new tax rate of 21 per cent in- say VAT hikes will further dampen cused Zapatero of “deceiving the tilateral cooperation, the on July 1st next year, and one of stead of 18 from January 1st 2010), consumption and hurt competi- people” with his move to boost amount allotted for food se- the two reduced rates will go up are expected to bring in an addi- tiveness, while unions and the left taxes after having promised not to curity and the fight against by one per cent to eight per cent. tional 11billion euros in revenue, say the increases would unfairly during his re-election campaign hunger - with special atten- This second rate affects the price combined with a 3.9 per cent cut burden the poor, workers and the last year. tion to child malnutrition - of goods such as contact lenses in spending. middle class. In previous years, Zapatero stands out in the 2010 and glasses, accommodation and Spain’s Economy Minister, could rely on votes from the budget. funeral services. Elena Salgado, explained that the Spending Basque Nationalist Party to pass The Government has promised measures would not come into ef- In general the budget bill calls for his budget, but that equation may not to increase the third, lowest fect until July next year which is total spending of 185.25 billion have changed since the Socialists rate of four per cent which affects when the Government predicts euros and forecasts revenues of teamed up with the PP earlier this the price of basic goods such as that the economy will start to re- 121.63 billion euros, resulting in a year to form a non-nationalist gov- bread, milk, medicine, books and cover. Salgado also defended the deficit equal to 5.4 per cent of ernment in the Basque region. newspapers. tax increases by saying that those Spain’s gross domestic product. The United Left coalition, which This package of tax increases who have the most should “make Deputy Prime Minister Elena often backs the Socialist govern- along with the elimination of the the biggest contribution”. Salgado, who holds the economy ment, greeted the budget bill with 400-euro income tax deduction and Nevertheless, the initial reac- portfolio, said the government criticism, saying that the admini- the increase in the taxation of sav- tion for the government’s plans has drafted an austerity budget stration should increase income THE MINISTER SHOWS THE 2010 ings (those who gain more than has been less than encouraging. and that the plan would curb the taxes on the wealthy instead of BUDGET. EFE 6,000 euros a year will be subject Business leaders and the PP party deficit while laying the basis for boosting IVA rates. tined for projects that are already Investment in Malaga up and running, leaving nothing for new schemes. The largest portion of the budget continues but no funds for Malaga goes to the ongoing air- port expansion scheme which will receive 339 million euros, most of for new projects which goes towards the second run- way and the completion of the new terminal building. The airport, the AVE line to Granada Another 169 million euros will go to the high speed railway line be- andtheouterringroadgetthemost tween Bobadilla and Granada while the most significant sums desig- nated for roads will go towards the SUR of Malaga has been set at 1.62 bil- construciton of the second Malaga lion euros, around 4.9% less than ring road, the San Pedro underpass Despite the finanical crisis the Gov- last year. Nevertheless, Malaga has and the airport’s new access road. ernment plans to maintain its the fourth highest input from state Other projects budgeted for in- spending patterns in the province funds, after Barcelona, Valencia clude the Malaga concert hall, the of Malaga. In the budget bill for and Madrid. This means that in- new prison in the municipality of 2010, presented by Minister Elena vestment in Malaga is 32% above Archidona, the Mijas-Fuengirola Salgado on Tuesday,central Gov- national average. desalination plant, and the city’s ernment spending in the province All of the funds, however, are des- MALAGA. THE AIRPORT RECEIVES THE BIGGEST PORTION OF FUNDS. S. SALAS fine arts museum, among others. OCTOBER 2ND TO 8TH 2009 SUR IN ENGLISH 3 News This week Zapatero full of praise for Brown at Labour conference The Prime Minister had been invited by the British Labour Party to speak at ANTEQUERA. THE POET AT HIS HOME ‘CASERÍA DEL CONDE’ IN 1997. F. GONZÁLEZ theconferencein Brighton on Muñoz Rojas, Spain’s Monday last classical poet, dies SUR IN ENGLISH Prime Minister José Luis Ro- EFE ary and poetry publications. dríguez Zapatero gave a speech at Muñoz Rojas’s poetry career the British Labour Party Confer- Poet and writer José Antonio Mu- began in 1929 with the publica- ence in Brighton on Monday. ñoz Rojas, who would have turned tion of “Versos del retorno.” Speaking through an interpreter, 100 on October 9th, died on Mon- Many other works followed Zapatero praised Gordon Brown’s day at his home in Antequera. over the years, including “Ardi- leadership during the financial Muñoz Rojas, winner of the ente jinete,“ “Cantos a Rosa,“ crisis. 1998 National Poetry Prize for “Lugares del corazon” and “Ob- “It’s true we are going through “Objetos perdidos” and the 2002 jetos perdidos,“ among others. difficult times - we are experienc- Queen Sofia Ibero-American Po- He taught at Cambridge Uni- ing one of the most of the most se- etry Prize in recognition of his versity and translated the works rious, deepest financial crises of SUPPORT. THE BRITISH AND SPANISH LEADERS AT THE LABOUR CONFERENCE.