Cancelling contract by fax

Metal sector dives 25%

Fewer divorces in 2008

Urbanism main reason for corruption

Cancelling purchasing contract by fax

On 7th July, Judge, O’Callaghan Muñoz of the Supreme Court, ruled that a sales/purchase contract for a property may be cancelled by means of a cable, fax or other reliable means, and that the notice did not need to be signed by a notary or a judge.  However, he explained that the cancellation of a contract, due to non-payment, did need a notice signed by a notary or judge before the cancelation was made.

Metal sector dives 25%

The Confederation of companies in the metal sector in Spain, with 150,000 factories and employing 8% of the total Spanish workforce, has reported a serious decline, and calculates there will be a retraction of 25% in the sector before the end of the year, a trend expected to continue into 2010.

Fewer divorces in 2008

The number of divorces fell 13.5% in 2008, compared with 2007. A lawyer asked, “There are couples with a joint income of only 2,000 euros a month, who bought apartments for maybe 500,000 €,  financed by the banks without any difficulties, how will they ever be able to divorce?” 

The average age of people obtaining a divorce is 41.7 years for women and 44.2 for men. 88.2% of divorces were where both partners were Spanish; 7.7% where one partners was Spanish and 3.8 where both partners were foreigners.

“Urbanism main reason for corruption”

The organisation Transparencia Internacional España has presented their global report on corruption, in which it identifies Town Planning as one of the main reason for the increase in corruption in Spain.   Over the past 5 years Spain has slipped from the 28th to the 22nd on the list of least corrupt countries. However, the organisation welcomed the law on the financing of political parties, the Directive from EU on public contracts and the special units within the Guardia Civil fighting town-planning crime.

Association demands end to structural funding for Spain

The Organisation representing those affected by the ‘Law on the Coasts’  has demanded that the President of the European Parliament withdraw the structural funding Spain should receive from Brussels “due to its not complying with the European Resolution in the Auken report on the abusive application of the Law on the Coasts.”   Their spokesman, Spanish lawyer José Ortega, stressed that, the resolution of 26^th March, passed by an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament, was being ignored by Spain.

Buying public health insurance

The Valencia Regional Government has decided to sell public health insurance to those not covered by the national health system. The cost will be about 300 euros a quarter.  Foreign residents who have taken early retirement are expected to be possible clients for the new system.  Application may be made at the provincial offices of the social security.

The vultures are leaving Spain

The international “vulture funds” have been circling over the Spanish property market for the two last years hoping to snap up housing developments or bigger packages of properties at prices between 20 and 40% of their ‘theoretical values.’   However, the continued support by the banks of the big promoters (to protect the values on their own books) has so far avoided such a situation,  but the vultures are still scanning the market, ready to swoop !

Spain best positioned for “green economy”

The “Washington Post” found Spain, due to its leadership in the market of renewable energy, is the country best positioned to create “green” jobs. The newspaper points to public funds of 30.000 million dollars to ‘kick-start’ the market. Spain generates 24.3% of its energy from renewable sources  (mainly from solar, wind and bio mass) against the EU average of 7%.

Police report on corruption in PP

The police have investigated a system, utilising ‘double book-keeping’ and centred in the Valencia Region, which they suspect provides illegal financing for Partido Popular.  Payments from big constructors obtaining public works are entered in the unofficial part.  Following accusations against the National Treasurer of the party, Senator Luis Barcenas, he has been forced to resign his position; whilst President Camps (he with the elegant suits) is still clinging to power after his friend in the Valencia Supreme Court stopped the case against him and eliminated the investigation report.