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Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Ibiza Rocks Brit's death sparks blame war in holiday resort after fourth tragedy
Politicans are calling for the San Antonio mayor and tourism minister to visit the area of Ibiza Rocks resort following the latest death on-site. Four people have died at the hotel since April A popular party hotel known for hosting Brits abroad has been plunged into the centre of a political war following the death of an ice hockey star. Ibiza Rocks hit headlines after sportsman Gary Kelly, 19, from Scotland, plummeted to his death after falling off a balcony at the resort on Monday. He has been named as the fourth person to die at the resort since April 27. The four-star hotel have since paused their events programme in response to the incident. A spokesperson for the Ibiza Rocks Hotel said: 'We are deeply shocked and devastated by the recent incidents that have tragically occurred. "Our priority is to support those affected and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and to fully assist the authorities with their investigations. The safety and wellbeing of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority.' The recent deaths have sparked outrage from socialist politicans in the area. They have accused the conservative Popular Party of prioritising the interests of those 'who benefit from the lack of control'. And PSOE opposition politicians say they want the Tourism Minister Jaume Bauza to visit the resort so he can see 'first-hand' the type of situation they say politicians in charge of the resort are facilitating. The tragedy occurred just two weeks after 26-year-old Evan Thomson, from Aberdeen, fell to his death from the same hotel in an incident which led to his family and friends criticising safety precautions at the venue. A 19-year-old Italian tourist of Turkish origin plunged to her death on April 27 from a fourth-floor at the hotel, owned by the Ibiza Rocks Group which is led by the British founders of island super club Manumission. On April 30, a British woman, aged 33, died in her room at the adults-only hotel after going into cardiac arrest. There is no suggestion that the hotel is to blame for any of the four deaths that have occurred on the premises since the end of April at this time. But the PSOE party, which governs nationally as part of a coalition but leads the opposition both in San Antonio and in the Balearic Islands region, issued a hard-hitting statement following on from the tragedy. The party's statement said: 'The PSOE of San Antonio publicly denounces the worrying increase of tourism of excesses in the municipality during the two years of Marga Prohens' Partido Popular Balearic Islands Government with the direct complicity of San Antonio mayor, Marcos Serra, and Vicent Mari's Ibiza island council. It also demands urgent measures to stop the deterioration in co-existence, security and image. "The PSOE regrets the death of yet another tourist and with the lack of direction the municipality is suffering, again asks the mayor to convene round-table talks to work on the change of tourism model we need.' It added: 'What we are experiencing today is the confirmation of a deliberate policy of permissiveness on the part of the Partido Popular, which puts the interests of those who benefit from the lack of control before the well-being of citizens. The PSOE denounces that the Balearic PP government has chosen to protect excesses and progressively dismantle the tools of control.'
Local Spain
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
What's caused the recent anti-migrant unrest in Spain?
What happened? Torre Pacheco, a town of 40,000 in the southeastern region of Murcia, has seen at least three nights of unrest between far-right groups and immigrant residents, mainly of Moroccan origin. The violence was sparked by the assault of a 68-year-old man on July 9th. He told Spanish media three men of North African descent attacked him without provocation. In response, the town hall -- led by the conservative Popular Party (PP) -- organised a protest against insecurity on Friday. The demonstration escalated when far-right groups joined in, chanting anti-immigrant slogans. Clashes have broken out on several nights since, though a strong police presence helped prevent serious confrontations. The authorities said 14 people have been detained, including three men suspected of involvement in the assault on the 68-year-old who do not live in Torre Pacheco. Among those arrested was a leader of the far-right group "Deport Them Now" which had called online for a "hunt" of immigrants in the town. What was the political response? The mayor of Torre Pacheco appealed for calm and warned against blaming the town's immigrant community for the incident. Around 30 percent of Torre Pacheco's population is foreign-born, with many working in the region's key agriculture sector. But the far-right Vox party, the third-largest force in Spain's parliament, has stepped up its anti-immigration rhetoric. Vox's regional leader, Jose Ángel Antelo, blamed the unrest on "illegal immigration", claiming that migrants had assaulted the elderly and committed sexual violence against women. Vox's national leader, Santiago Abascal, called for "immediate deportations" in response to what he called a "criminal migrant invasion". Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist party strongly condemned the remarks, accusing Vox of "pouring fuel on the fire". Prosecutors have opened an investigation into Antelo's statement to see if they constitute a hate crime. "This is a clear example of growing tension over immigration issues in Spain," Paloma Román, a political scientist at Madrid's Complutense University, told AFP. Why are tensions rising? Traditionally a country of emigrants, Spain has seen a recent influx of foreign arrivals as living standards improved. In 1998, there were 637,000 foreigners in the country -- about 1.6 percent of the population. There are 6.95 million today, or 14 percent of the total, including some 920,000 Moroccans, the largest foreign community. Spain's leftist government, which aims to regularise up to 300,000 undocumented migrants per year through to 2027, argues immigration helps offset population decline and fill gaps in the labour market. Sánchez is the only leader of a major European nation to champion migration and its economic benefits even as several countries move to tighten their borders against newcomers. According to Spain's national statistics institute, immigration has been a key driver of Spain's buoyant economy, which grew 3.2 percent last year. A recent Ipsos poll found that only 34 percent of Spaniards feel the country would be "stronger" with fewer migrants -- the lowest figure in the European Union. Still, social tensions are mounting. Román linked the trend to the rise of the far right, which has placed immigration at the centre of its agenda. Vox has seized on public unease, recently proposing a sweeping "remigration" plan to deport foreign nationals. "In a country whose growth depends on immigration, this is somewhat contradictory," said Román, who attributed the polarisation to a political tug-of-war between the mainstream conservative PP and Vox. This is compounded by corruption scandals that have weakened Sánchez's government, she added.
El Chorouk
15-07-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
'Popular Party' Insists On Madrid's Retraction Of Its Position On Western Sahara
Relations between the Moroccan regime and Spain's leading political force are heading for further escalation, with relations with Algeria and the position on the Sahrawi issue in the background, in the biggest crisis between Rabat and Madrid since Spain changed its position on the Western Sahara issue more than three years ago. Relations between Rabat and Madrid are experiencing a non-silent crisis marked by statements and counter-statements, which erupted since the conservative Spanish Popular Party strongly attacked its country's government at its general conference about a week ago, on the grounds that the ruling party's position on the Sahrawi issue harmed relations with Algeria, which it described as a 'neighboring and great country'. For the second time in a week, the Popular Party, a strong candidate to lead the Spanish government after the upcoming legislative elections, affirmed that its position on relations with Algeria and the Sahrawi issue is 'declared and known'. The party also affirmed on Monday, according to 'Europa Press agency', that in any case, Spanish foreign policy 'is not subordinate to others', in reference to what it considers the ruling party's subordination, led by Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister, to external influences that led to Spain changing its position on the Sahrawi issue and the resulting crises with Algeria. The official spokesperson for the Spanish Popular Party and Deputy Minister of Culture, Borja Sémper, was asked at the press conference following the meeting of the party's steering committee whether its president, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, planned to respond to the letter sent to him by the head of the Moroccan Istiqlal Party, Nizar Baraka, regarding the ambiguity of the Spanish party's position. He replied: 'Our position is declared and known, unlike the decisions taken by this government regarding (Western) Sahara, which are secret.' Although the Spanish party is not in power, even if it is a strong candidate for it, its position caused an earthquake for the Moroccan regime, which was reflected in the state of confusion that characterized Rabat's positions. It proceeded to close two customs offices in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, a clear retreat from the agreement to normalize relations between the two countries in the spring of 2022 after Sánchez changed his position on the Sahrawi issue. The 'Istiqlal Party', which is the political arm of the Moroccan regime, also attacked its Spanish counterpart because of the concluding statement of its conference, which was previously referred to, accusing it of a lack of clarity in its position on the Western Sahara issue, as well as hosting representatives of the Polisario Front. The Popular Party leader added: 'We have always expressed the same position,' stressing: 'We have always expressed the same position, and it is the position we adhere to today as well,' in a clear and explicit challenge to the Moroccan regime and its political arm, the Istiqlal Party, where he stressed that his party calls for 'respect for international law and United Nations resolutions,' knowing that United Nations resolutions call for organizing a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara, based on the ceasefire agreement signed in 1991, and the United Nations still maintains a mission to organize the referendum in Western Sahara, which is called 'MINURSO'. In a message to Pedro Sánchez's government, the spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP) said that 'our country's foreign policy is decided by our country.' Sémper added: 'It is not subject to or influenced by other countries,' in reference to the firm belief among many specialists and observers in Spain that the Sánchez government's decision to change its position on the Sahrawi issue came in the context of pressure it was subjected to by the Moroccan regime, which used the migrant card to 'subdue' Sánchez. The Popular Party leader also explained: 'We have defined our position, and we believe that Spain should define its position based on the interests of the Spanish people and our traditions, also in some areas, especially in this area.' It is worth noting that the opposition Popular Party had strongly criticized the Madrid government's change of position on the Sahrawi issue, and on many occasions led attempts to withdraw confidence, but the game of alliances prevented that. However, the involvement of Sánchez's family and his party's entourage have significantly weakened his chances of remaining at the head of the government after the upcoming legislative elections.
El Chorouk
12-07-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Spanish Popular Party Confuses the Moroccan Regime
A Spanish political stance critical of Madrid's involvement in the crisis that erupted with Algeria nearly three years ago has led to vehement measures and decisions taken by the Moroccan regime and some of its political wings, such as the Istiqlal Party, aimed at discouraging Spain from any rapprochement with Algeria. During its general conference last week, the Spanish conservative Popular Party (PP), the country's largest political force, affirmed its support for UN efforts to resolve the Western Sahara issue. It also denounced the position of the Pedro Sánchez government, which supports Morocco's colonial project in Western Sahara, which has been included among the territories subject to decolonisation for more than six decades. During the conference, party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo advocated for balanced relations with Algeria, a pivotal state in the North African region. The Polisario Front was also invited to participate in the conference, and its representative in Madrid, Abdallah Larabi, received a special reception, shocking the Moroccan regime. In response to this position by the conservative Popular Party in Spain, the Alawite regime in Rabat closed the two customs offices in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. These offices were among the terms of the Rabat-Madrid agreement more than three years ago regarding the Western Sahara issue. Furthermore, Nizar Baraka, Secretary-General of the Moroccan Istiqlal Party, sent a written letter to the Secretary-General of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, demanding that he clarify his party's position on the Western Sahara issue. In the letter, the party expressed 'deep concern over the lack of clarity in the Popular Party's position on the Western Sahara issue.' The Istiqlal Party, known for its expansionist and colonialist positions, also expressed its surprise that the Spanish People's Party, 'despite its political weight and affiliation with the European People's Party (PPE),' did not support the proposals for the autonomy plan presented by the Moroccan regime in 2007, according to the letter. Commenting on the panic that gripped the Moroccan regime and its political wings following the Spanish Popular Party's stance, political analyst and researcher at the University of Seville, Mohamed Bachir Lahcen, believes that 'foreign policy is the responsibility of the Moroccan regime, and no party official can take action without the approval of the regime, which considers parties merely its political arms.' The researcher at the University of Seville explained that 'the Moroccan regime sent a message through the Istiqlal Party, an expansionist ruling party. Therefore, I believe the Moroccan regime is dissatisfied with the actions of the Spanish Popular Party, which is considered the most likely to win the upcoming elections. This would return the Spanish position on the Western Sahara issue to square one'. It is well known that the Spanish conservative Popular Party won the legislative elections held approximately two years ago. However, its failure to achieve an absolute majority enabled the ruling Socialist Party to build alliances that kept it in power. Current opinion polls indicate that it will lead the next government after the legislative elections, because the ruling Socialist Party is deeply entangled in corruption cases, both within the Prime Minister's family (his wife is implicated in a corruption case) and within the party itself, with prominent leaders also implicated in corruption scandals. Mohamed Bachir Lahcen believes that 'the Moroccan regime's anger with the Spanish Popular Party is also due to its invitation to the Polisario Front's representative in Spain, Abdallah Larabi, to attend the conference and sit among the party's senior leaders. This is a provocative tactic aimed at threatening the Spanish authorities from changing their position on the Western Sahara issue, after the Moroccan regime believed that matters had been settled'. Regarding the Spanish party's options for dealing with Algeria and the Western Sahara issue if it comes to power, the researcher at the University of Seville, Spain, confirmed that 'it will not succumb to blackmail and will strive to build a balanced relationship with Algeria, unlike the government of Pedro Sánchez, which eliminated the accumulations of Madrid's historical policy of neutrality on this sensitive issue. It is worth noting that the Popular Party had strongly criticised the Sánchez government's shift in position on Western Sahara more than three years ago, which, as is well known, caused a severe crisis with Algeria'. Mohamed Bachir Lahcen explained that the Moroccan regime is keen to ensure that Madrid's positions are in line with its decisions regarding the Western Sahara issue and relations with Algeria. This is something the conservative Popular Party has not done, unlike the Socialist Party, whose history is replete with betrayals of the Western Sahara issue since the 1980s'. Bachir Lahcen concluded that 'the government of Pedro Sánchez must explain to the Spanish people today why the Moroccan regime closed the customs crossings in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, even as it repeatedly speaks of good relations with Rabat. Sánchez is deeply embarrassed in the eyes of public opinion in his country, because what happened is considered a major insult to the government in Madrid and the Spanish people after this move.'
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Opposition accuses Spanish prime minister of profiting from brothels
The leader of Spain's conservative opposition party has accused the country's prime minister of profiting from brothels in an ugly parliamentary debate. A senior government minister hit back, saying the Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Feijoo was 'dirty up to his neck' after making the claims against Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday. "He wants us to talk about brothels, but no, we'll talk about scholarships, territorial cohesion, pensions, the economy... The PP can wallow in this filth," minister of justice Felix Bolanos said , according to El Pais. The comments come after Mr Feijoo unleashed a furious rant at Mr Sanchez during the plenary Congress session, accusing the prime minister of profiting from brothels and gay saunas allegedly owned by his wife Begona Gomez's family's businesses. "But who are you living with? What brothels have you lived in? You participated for profit in the abominable business of prostitution, and now you want to outlaw your life," he said to Mr Sanchez, according to El Diario. The accusations came after Mr Sanchez unveiled a new plan to root out corruption on Wednesday, after senior members of his government were accused of taking bribes. A Supreme Court judge last month ordered the ruling party's former number three, Santos Cerdan, to be held in pre-trial detention over allegations that he received and distributed kickbacks in exchange for awarding public works contracts. Mr Cerdan denies the allegations, which are part of a wider corruption inquiry that has led to opposition calls for a snap election that threaten to destabilise Sanchez's government. Mr Sanchez told parliament at an extraordinary session on the case that he had briefly considered quitting but decided to stay on, arguing that he himself had done no wrong. "I am a clean politician, I will not throw in the towel," he said. Sanchez, who again rejected calls for an early election, announced 15 measures to strengthen anti-corruption measures, including preventing companies found guilty of bribery from winning government procurement contracts and working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's anti-corruption team to crack down on graft. After Mr Feijoo's accusations, Spanish media published conflicting and rapidly updating reports about the nature of the businesses and who purchased what. According to El Diario, shortly after Mr Feijoo's comments were made another outlet, OkDiaro published a story claiming that Mr Sanchez's father-in-law purchased a family home for the prime minister while he was making a living from brothels. Later the article was updated to say the business was gay saunas 'with a notorious sexual component', before clarifying that Ms Gomez's father originally bought the house for himself and later gave it to his daughter, years after leaving the sauna business. On Thursday, OkDiaro was reporting that in 2013 Ms Gomez purchased an apartment in Mojacar from the family business, whose sole director was listed at the time of sale as her uncle. Mr Sanchez first became secretary-general of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in 2014, and was elected as prime minister in 2018. The Spanish prime minister has been rocked by scandal since April last year, when far-right trade union Manos Limpias filed court complaints against Ms Gomez of business corruption and influence peddling. But an explosive j oint investigation by the El Diario, El Pais and La Vanguardia newspapers published just days later uncovered a plot from the PP dating back a decade to spy on Mr Sanchez and Ms Gomez's relatives to kill his political career.
