Spanish news headlines for Friday 23 February include Government committed to more employment, more rights and greater coexistence, Rossmann to open largest store in Spain in Barcelona today, reservoirs increase by one percent, and working week to reduce to 38.5 hours.
Spanish News Headlines
In the Government control session that took place in the Congress of Deputies, Pedro Sánchez, in response to the deputy Mertxe Aizpurua, of the Euskal Herria Bildu Parliamentary Group, has pointed out as the fundamental pillar of his government action the commitment to “more jobs, more rights and, also, greater coexistence.”
In this sense, the head of the Executive recalled that in the months that have passed since the legislature, several measures have been approved for the extension of the social shield, such as the increase in the Minimum Interprofessional Salary of 5% and the revaluation of pensions. according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). He has also mentioned that the Artistic Education Law and the Parity Law have been sent to Congress, which aims to continue walking towards real and effective equality between men and women. Likewise, a package of more than one billion euro on science has been approved, and, recently, in the Council of Ministers, the Sustainable Mobility Law.
The German retail chain Rossmann will open their largest store in Spain today in Barcelona.
This will be the third establishment in Catalonia, after opening last summer in Sant Pere de Ribes and Sitges. The new store is located in the heart of Barcelona, between Sants, les Corts and l’Eixample.
The commercial premises have two floors, connected by stairs and an elevator, and houses the chain’s entire assortment, which combines Rossmann’s own range with the usual brands. Drugstores, perfumery, cosmetics, personal hygiene, baby items, are some of the categories it offers, as well as BIO products, sports nutrition, parapharmacy and food, among others.
The Plenary Session of Congress has approved a non-law proposal Sumar to promote the reduction of the working week to 38,5 hours this year without loss of salary, despite VOX voting against the plan and the PP and Junts abstaining, the remaining parties had sufficient majority, with 169 in favour, 33 against, and 142 abstaining.
This is the first initiative on reducing working hours that the Lower House has debated and voted on after PSOE and Sumar included it in their Government agreement. Specifically, the approved proposal urges the Government to “urgently” open a process of social dialogue that will culminate in the modification of the Workers’ Statute, as well as the relevant provisions, to incorporate a progressively applied reduction in the working week, starting by setting a limit of 38,5 effective hours in 2024.
According to the latest weekly Hydrological Bulletin, the Spanish hydraulic reserve stands at 52.1% of its total capacity (56,039 hm³), compared to 50.6% the previous year and 60% of the average for the last decade.
The reservoirs currently store 29,182 hm³ of water, increasing in the last week by 534 hm³ (1% of their current total capacity).
To read these articles in full, visit SpainToday.news
Business, Markets and Statistics
The week ends in Spain with the publication of doubtful credit data for December and the hotel tourism situation for January.
Investors will be watching the German IFO for February and housing prices in China for January today.
At the business level, the results of Coca Cola Europacif Partners, Allianz and Deutsche Telekom stand out. The Tokyo trading floor will remain closed for holidays.
Back on Spain, the Institute of National Statistics (INE) publishes the hotel tourism situation for January, and releases the corporate turnover index for December.
In the Eurozone, the European Central Bank (ECB) publishes the consumer expectations survey for January.
Eurogroup meeting in Ghent (Belgium), where it will evaluate the situation of the European economy, and the informal meeting of EU Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers (Ecofin) continues.
In Germany, which many economists are watching, and other countries use as a benchmark, both good and bad, the final GDP data for the fourth quarter comes to light, the IFO business confidence index for February is published, and Allianz and Deutsche Telekom publish results.
In the UK, statistics on Births in England and Wales (2022) are published, as are GfK consumer confidence barometer figures, and results from Standard Chartered, BASF, AngloGold Ashanti.
Things to Do Today
Cinderella is in Torrevieja on Sunday 25 February, and International Flamenco Day is celebrated with a concert on 2 March. You can then take a Trip to Oz, with the kids, on 15 March, assuming you survive Peter and the Wolf on 10 March. There is also the Magical world of Disney concert on 16.
For sports fans, there are a couple of endurance events this weekend, including in the municipality of Elche, where Transilicitana will take place, a staggering 100-kilometre race, with slopes and flats, starting on Saturday with 24 hours to complete the race.
Then, on Sunday 25 February, we have the Torrevieja half marathon, and a 5k race, starting at 9:30 a.m. Both of those events of course will lead to road closures, so check the traffic situation before you travel.
Looking ahead, 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.
A Black Music Festival is taking place in Salt until 9 March, and the Jerez Festival of Flamenco and art is on in Jerez de la Frontera also until 9 March.
Down south, the Malaga Film Festival takes place from 1 to 10 March, followed by the Granada Tango Festival from 12 to 17 March.
Fallas season is about to start, culminating in the celebrations around the middle of March, not forgetting of course we have San Jose, Spanish Father’s Day, a big event in the Spanish cultural calendar. The main fallas event is around Valencia, where this year the calendar is from 25 February to 19 March.
We must also remember that Easter is earlier this year, and one of the big draws is Elche, and in particular Palm Sunday, on account of the history of the city in relation to palm trees. A huge Palm Sunday procession takes place in the city each year.
One of the most unusual festivals takes place in the town of Mula, with the Night of the Drums, or Noche de los Tambores, where drumming begins at midnight on Holy Tuesday until 4 in the afternoon on Wednesday. Similar drum festivals take place in a few other towns too, but Mula is known as one of the best.
Another unusual celebration takes place in Jerte, usually at the end of March and beginning of April, but it depends on the weather, and therefore could be earlier this year, but it is the Cherry Trees in Blossom festival, which beholds a beauty of colour and aroma that is definitely a feast for the senses.
For more local events, pick up The Leader newspaper every Monday, and This is Torrevieja for Torrevieja events.
Local Markets
On Friday there’s are weekly market in Dolores, Jacarilla, Los Montesinos, Pilar de la Horadada, Torrellano (Elche), and Torrevieja.
On Saturday, you can get your bargains at the markets in Alicante, Almoradi, Catral, Elche, Moncayo (Guardamar), Orihuela, Playa Flamenca (Orihuela Costa), San Anton (Elche), San Fulgencio (La Marina), and Santa Pola.
And on Sunday, Algorfa (Zoco), Campoverde (Pilar de la Horadada), Corvera (Murcia), Guardamar El Limonero (Lemon Tree Road), Guardamar (N-332), Elche Mercadillo del Martínez Valero, La Aparecida (Orihuela), La Murada (Orihuela), and Pilar de la Horadada (El Toro).
The roads will of course be busy around those locations.
Traffic and Travel
This week, ROADPOL, the European traffic police network, are holding a focussed campaign on vans, trucks and buses, checking everything from vehicle standards and compliance, and driver and documentation. The campaign runs all week and through Sunday 25 February 2024, and will be taking place in most European countries.
In Spain, the DGT are supporting this campaign and so the Guardia Civil, assisted by Local Police in areas where they are taking part, will also be checking on these types of vehicles.
There is also still the possibility of protests causing disruption on the roads, and so you should consult the official information from the DGT which is updated live on their website.
On the roads of Spain, coinciding with the weekends of the winter months, an increase in traffic is expected on the main routes, national roads, and motorways towards rest areas, second homes and mountain areas for practicing winter sports.
FRIDAY
Movements out of large urban centres and increased circulation on the main communication routes towards rest areas, second homes and mountain areas, the least favourable time being between 7 and 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
Travel out of large urban centres, many of which will be short trips to recreation and leisure areas close to large towns, as well as increased circulation on the main communication routes to rest areas, second homes and mountain areas, the busiest times being between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
SUNDAY
Movements in the entrance direction to the large urban centres along the main communication road axes that channel the entire return movement, in particular on motorways, as well as along the access roads to areas of mountain with winter sports practice, at an unfavourable time between 6 and 10 p.m.
If you are going to the mountains, remember to take snow chains (click this link to browse snow chains on Amazon). Winter tyres are also permitted. If you come across a blue circular sign showing snow chains, it is obligatory to have them fitted on your wheels before passing the sign. In accordance with Spanish Traffic Law, you are not permitted further without having them installed. It is both dangerous, and illegal.
For information and updates about driving in Spain, visit N332.es
Flight wise, with around 25,600 flights scheduled across Europe, today is not one of the busiest experienced, but there could be a couple of hotspots to look out for, mainly by several weather affecting some airports.
Once again, as has been the case for most of this week, Heathrow is likely to be affected by strong winds, but today could be worse than yesterday, with capacity restrictions possible as a result. Moderate to high delays have been anticipated in the daily plan.
The weather, in different forms, is also expected to impact other airports in the UK, as well as Germany, the Netherlands, France and Portugal.
There is also a military exercise once again over the Black Sea, which could impact flights in that route, and have a knock-on effect as the day continues.
Official Websites for Travel Information
On This Day
2012, the plenary session of the General Council of the Judiciary ratifies, with the support of 20 of its 21 members, the expulsion of Judge Baltasar Garzón from the judicial career.
2009, Penélope Cruz becomes the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar.
2005, the Ministry of Health approves the first four research projects on stem cells.