In Thursday’s Spanish news we have multi-million-euro Social Security fraudsters arrested, prison for man who rented out apartment that wasn’t his, and free Legal Aid Law to be overhauled this year.
Plus, it´s a quiet day for Spain´s markets but a busy day in the UK.
Remember, Today is a holiday in some places around Spain, tomorrow, Friday, is everywhere, and then Monday is also a holiday in other parts of the country for Easter.
There will be no daily bulletin on Friday due to the holiday, but we will be back on Monday for a “lite” version. Also, there will be no Week Ahead bulletin this week for the same reason, that returns for week commencing 8 April, which, incidentally, is also a holiday in many places in Spain, celebrating San Vicente Ferrer. We then have to wait until 1 May for the next holiday. Happy Easter.
Spanish News Headlines
The National Police dismantled an organisation that is accused of defrauding Social Security of more than four million euro by capitalising unemployment benefits.
A total of 25 people have been arrested in different locations in Madrid for being part of this network dedicated to committing fraud against the State Public Employment Service (SEPE). The number of illicit files identified exceeds 400, formalised between 2020 and 2024, and among those arrested are four public employees and four bank workers.
The Provincial Court of Valencia has sentenced a man to two years in prison for a continuous crime of fraud for which it includes the aggravating circumstance of recidivism and the mitigating circumstances of a gambling addiction and partial reparation of the damage, after he was found guilty of defrauding 12 people with the rent of a home that was not his.
The sentence, handed down after the Prosecutor’s Office, and to which the defence reached an agreement as the defendant recognised the facts and agreed with the sentence imposed, also condemns him to pay a fine of 1,260 euro.
A new Free Legal Aid Law, Ley de Asistencia Jurídica Gratuita, to replace the current one from 1996, is included in the Government’s legislative agenda for this year, as reported by the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Felix Bolaños.
“We will continue to advance in rights for citizens… We will also address the Free Legal Aid Law, the current one is from 1996 and deserves that the new circumstances that operate in the legal and social market be incorporated into a new law,” Bolaños stated at a press conference after the Council of Ministers.
To read these articles in full, visit SpainToday.news
Business, Markets and Statistics
Without notable macro references in Spain due to the Easter holidays, attention shifts to other European countries, such as Germany, where retail sales for February or the unemployment rate for March will be known.
Also, to the US, where the GDP for the fourth quarter and the confidence of the University of Michigan for March will be released.
Meanwhile, on a business level, Bankinter pays a dividend.
In the Eurozone, the ECB publishes the M3 monetary supply and loans to non-financial corporations for February.
There will be lots of statistics coming out of the UK today, as much of the country joins MPs in taking an Easter break, including provisional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, which will also be accompanied by the energy trends and prices report, as well as statistics on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
We will also see significant economic reports, such as the UK Economic Accounts, along with Property Transactions in the UK and the SMMT car production figures.
In the UK crime statistics portfolio, annual figures on serious offences in the service justice system will be revealed, along with the quarterly court statistics.
Finally, in the business world, results from H&M, who are in the process of restructuring (closing branches) in Spain, Capricorn Energy, and Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Things to Do Today
In Torrevieja, the latest book fair is on all week and through the weekend, with some 8 booths selling books and offering readings and signings throughout the week.
World Theatre Day is celebrated on Wednesday in Torrevieja with a special event at the Virgen del Carmen Centre.
Sports fans in Torrevieja have another football competition this week, on the 28 to 31, and handball on the same weekend.
For runners, Crevillente on 6 April has a 6k race, and the Dama de Guardamar half marathon, which takes the form of both a 10k and 21k variant, and will take place in Guardamar del Segura on 14 April 2024.
Looking ahead, on 26 April there is a film music tribute concert taking place in the International Auditorium in Torrevieja, specifically a tribute to the music of Morricone, Williams, and Zimmer, three of the greatest film score composers of modern times, arguably.
The Film Symphony Orchestra will also perform in Torrevieja on 26 May, offering music from the likes of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Mulan.
In the El Raso area of Guardamar del Segura on 11 to 14 April you can celebrate with the Neighbourhood Party, including a Tapas Trail, and a dog show.
Fans of the music of Queen might want to take a trip down to Cartagena on 20 April, where the concert, Symphonic Rhapsody of Queen, A Kind of Magic, will be taking place.
Sticking with big-name music, James Blunt is back in Alicante on 19 July, as is Tom Jones on 25. Other popular groups coming to Spain in the near future include AC/DC, Depeche Mode, and Simple Minds.
Aircraft fans can look forward to the Patrulla Aguila aerobatic team performing locally in the San Javier Airshow, taking place from 3rd-5th May – Festival Aéreo San Javier – over the playas de Santiago de la Ribera, San Javier, Murcia. They are also at the DIFAS 2024, taking place in Oviedo on 1 June, and on 15th June, the 50º Aniversario del ALA 14, in Albacete, where a competition is open to design a Eurofighter livery.
The Patrulla Acrobática de Paracaidismo del Ejército del Aire (PAPEA) parachutists perform on 31st March at the Conmemoración de “El Encuentro” de Alcantarilla, in Murcia, before the team head overseas in April to attend the 5th FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championship, in Macau, China.
Down in Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor there is an unusual and unique horse-based event on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March, the XXIII Incursiones Berberiscas en Mar Menor, a medieval tournament pitching knights against knights on the beaches of the town.
For more local events, pick up The Leader newspaper every Monday, and This is Torrevieja for Torrevieja events.
Local Markets
Thursday markets are held in Alicante, Bigastro, Campoamor (Orihuela Costa), El Altet (Elche), Gran Alacant, Lo Pagan (San Pedro del Pinatar), Rojales, and San Fulgencio (La Marina).
The roads will of course be busy around those locations.
Traffic and Travel
The roads are busier because of Easter, and will get even busier towards the weekend, and then much busier for the return operation on Sunday afternoon and into Monday. Remember that if you are venturing into the mountain areas, which in some cases might be less than an hour from the sunny coast, snow chains should be a consideration to avoid getting stranded.
For information and updates about driving in Spain, visit N332.es
Official Websites for Travel Information
On This Day
1939, in the context of the Spanish civil war, the rebels take Madrid without resistance. At nightfall they also took the entire front of Extremadura and Andalusia. Four days later the war would end.
1935, Spanish aeronautical engineer Virgilio Leret patents the first jet engine in Madrid, his continuous reaction turbocharger. The following year he will be shot by the rebels during the Spanish Civil War.
1909, in Madrid, the first ten automobiles enter public service, on an experimental basis.