News
Crisis help for business
Price hike
One of the area’s major tourist
attractions, the Caminito del Rey near
Ardales, was closed on March 14 as a
preventative health measure. When it
reopens, the ticket price will rise from
€10 to €12 and the number of visitors per
day will increase to 1,500. The Caminto
is a one-metre-wide walkway pinned up
to 100 metres above the river flowing
through El Chrorro gorge.
Bank recycles
BBVA has become the first financial
institution in Spain to distribute cards
made of recycled plastic as part of its
commitment to the fight against climate
change. The new cards currently in
production will begin circulating in May
and will initially be available for those
holding BBVA accounts for young
people. The bank has made a
commitment to reach the 100% mark for
recycled materials by the end of 2020.
Charging points
Utility company Iberdrola has
announced plans to install 150,000
charging points for electric vehicles
across Spain. The €150 million
investment will provide AC and DC
points for households, companies and
both urban and interurban roads over
the next five years. The company says it
has already installed some 5,000
charging points, including 400v DC
chargers, but says it will be just a “small
fraction” of the network by 2025.
Suspects released
The consumer group FACUA says it will
appeal the decision of a Sevilla court to
provisionally release two people facing
charges in investigations into an outbreak
of listeriosis last summer. The father and
son were managers at Magrudis, the
Sevilla factory where the outbreak is
believed to have started, and must report
to police every month. Around 200
people were infected with the bacterial
infection after eating contaminated meat
produced at the factory.
On March 17, the government
announced a package of measures to
help fight the economic effects of the
coronavirus crisis. Announcing the
€200 billion relief package, president
Pedro Sánchez described it as, “the
greatest mobilisation of resources in
the country’s entire democratic
history.”
It was estimated then that at least
100,000 workers could face temporary
layoffs as a result of the emergency
measures which have severely
restricted economic activity. Many
retail outlets have closed as custom
dried up after the public was ordered
to stay at home.
Public and private entities can benefit
from the emergency funds which
equate to 20 per cent of Spain’s GDP.
Sr Sánchez said that half of the cash
would be tied to a public guarantee
scheme to ensure liquidity for
struggling businesses, with a further
€17 billion reserved to provide support
to those most likely to suffer from the
effects of the virus.
The measures include delaying
mortgage payments on primary
residences for employees who lose
their jobs, as well as self-employed
workers who sustain a dramatic fall in
income as a result of the
government’s restrictions. This
measure is expected to last between
one and three months.
Proposals also include cancelling social
security contribution payments for
PYMES (small and medium sized
businesses) who do not lay off workers,
as well as adjusting the social security
system contributions made by self-
employed workers whose income is
reduced.
Employees who need time off to care
for dependents can vary their working
hours by up to 100 per cent, but Sr
Sánchez urged employers not to lay off
workers. “We will work to allow the
self-employed to receive a subsidy if
they are affected,” he added.
In addition, the president announced a
€30 million extra for “scientific
research to develop a vaccine and a
cure for COVID-19.” This cash will go
to boost the work underway at CSIC,
the state scientific research council,
and the research institute Carlos III.
New sex offence laws
The controversial offence of “sexual
abuse” is likely to disappear in Spain as
the government begins to debate new
legislation covering sexual violence.
The difference between “abuse” and
“rape” has been highlighted in recent
years following the well-publicised case
of an 18-year-old girl who was attacked
by a gang during the annual “running
of the bulls” event in Pamplona in July
2016.
The five men accused of sexual assault
– a term which covers rape - were
initially found guilty of the lesser
charge of sexual abuse on the grounds
that she did not attempt to defend
herself. However, the Supreme Court
reviewed the case and in June last year
confirmed that the accused men were
guilty of rape.
The draft of the comprehensive new
law covers women of 16 years of age or
older who have suffered sexual
violence, female genital mutilation,
forced marriage or sex trafficking, and
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includes education on equality and
diversity. At a press conference last
month, Equality Minister Irene
Montero said that there will have to be
“an explicit expression by the woman”
indicating consent, one that is “not
necessarily verbal.” Sexual assault, she
added, will be classed as “any act
against the sexual freedom of another
person without their consent.”
The offence will carry a prison term of
one to four years, compared to the
current sentence of one to five years or
a fine. Rape will become punishable by
four to 10 years behind bars, compared
to the current four to 12 years. The
Ministry said that, despite reductions
in sentences, more serious offenses will
be punished as at present, given that
aggravating circumstances will be taken
into account.
The draft legislation is now subject to
consideration by a number of bodies
before being sent back to Cabinet, and
thence to Parliament for debate.