Today it has been indicated by European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn that the Spanish government is considering requesting a sovereign bailout. During a televised interview Rehn stated: ‘The Spanish government has an open mind on this issue, but no decision has been made. We stand ready to act if there is a request.’
With anti-austerity campaigners receiving rejuvenation in the form of a three week protest march, a request from a pressured and embarrassed government may not be long in coming.
The march follows the actions of one Spanish Mayor, dubbed ‘Robin Hood’ by supporters. The Mayor of Marinaleda – a town of just over 2,500 people – has been encouraging theft in his region by staging supermarket robberies.
Marinaleda is in the province of Andalusia, an area so badly hit by the financial crisis that one in three residents are unemployed. Prancing about in bright green tights aside, there is good reason for the 59 year old mayor to be likened to the hero of Sherwood Forest. All food stolen has been given to those most affected by the country’s economic crisis. So far Mayor Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo has sanctioned and overseen two raids.
During the raids labour unionists filled trolley’s to bursting point before walking out of the supermarket without paying. Seven people have been arrested for their participation in the action. As an elected member of the regional parliament Sanchez Gorfillo has political immunity, but he has asserted that he would be happy to have the privilege revoked and be arrested himself in order to garner more attention for the cause. In recent years the amount of unemployed Spaniards has risen to roughly a quarter of the population whilst thousands are without permanent housing and Spanish poverty levels have jumped by over 15 per cent.
During an interview conducted earlier this week Sanchez Gorfillo seemed to feel that his recent decisions required no justification. He was quoted as saying ‘There are people who don’t have enough to eat. In the 21st century this is an absolute disgrace.’ The Spanish populace appear to agree with him. Whilst being interviewed the new national celebrity was thanked by fans for taking a stand.
The conservative government is not so eager to embrace the little rascal. A spokesman for the ruling People’s Party (PP) condemned Sanchez Gorfillo’s actions. Alfonso Alonso asserted that: ‘You can’t be Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. This man is just searching for publicity at the cost of everyone else.’
That publicity is only set to grow. Tomorrow Sanchez Gorfillo will begin a three week march. He plans to begin in Jodar, the Andalusian town with the highest level of unemployment, and make his way around the region. His aim is to persuade local leaders that government reforms, like layoffs, budget cuts and home evictions, should not be complied with.
The government is understandably slightly peeved.
This is just the latest in a series of protests against the cuts and tax hikes implemented by Rajoy over the past eight months, and there are increasing concerns that Marinaleda’s Robin Hood might be able to assemble a band of merry men to stir further unrest.
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