News, December 2005

PrayforSpain wishes all our followers a very Happy New Year

We are very grateful for your interest and support over the past year and trust that the Lord will be with you at this special time. P4S remains closed for regular updates for the time being. more >>

December 31st, roundup.

(Sport news click more)Close of a year which saw a major attack on biblical values in the Spanish law books - some 350 gay 'couples' have taken advantage of new 'marriage' law; negotiations on new Catalan regional Estatut remain largely blocked; December 25th: Royal message begs politicians to work together and stop squabbling; P4S is currently closed. more >>

News from the Churches

Madrid celebrates First Regional Protestant Congress The event took place from 25th to 27th November, aiming to unite all the region's protestants, most of whom would consider themselves evangelical. At the inauguration several local, regional and national political figures were present, in addition to members of most of the churches. An initial report is now available from Protestante Digital more >>

New Catalan Statute faces hard Congress passage

2nd November. An already much debated proposal goes before the Congress today. It is the new Catalan regional Estatut, outlining a greater degree of autonomous rule for the region in Spain's North East, which considers itself rather different to the rest of Spain, not the least due to having its own language and partly a different history. The government wants to change some parts of the proposal, while the opposition Partido Popular wants it completely thrown out as being unconstitutional, even in adapted form. more >>

Successor to throne born, heralding change to Constitution

31 October. Early this morning Princess Letizia gave birth to a daughter, Leonor. She is the first child of Letizia and Prince Felipe and thus his immediate successor to the Spanish throne. However, as things stand, the line of succession folows Salic Law, such that, should a boy be born to the royal couple, he would take over the succession, just as Prince Felipe is heir to the throne despite being the third child of King Juan Carlos. Everyone is agreed that a change is needed to ensure the equality of women's rights with this new generation. more >>

25th Prince of Asturias prizes, October 21st

Fernando Alonso at a Silverstone presentation

The 25th edition of Spain's most prestigious Prince of Asturias prizes took place again in the Campoamor theatre in Oviedo, the principality's capital. The best known of the prize-winners is Asturian racing driver Fernando Alonso, but the prizes are far from a regional event. Last year's Concord prize went to J.K.Rowling, while this year's International Cooperation prize goes to Simone Veil. Only one other Spaniard is among the winners: Tamara Rojo, lead dancer with the Royal Ballet. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA

Until 2003, terrorism in Spain meant ETA. Bombs, or bomb threats, assassinations and extortion were a regular part of life, affecting few directly, but leaving no one completely sure that it could not hit him or her. Evidently, the events of 11th March, 2004 changed the whole way Spaniards look at terrorism, as ETA lost its monopoly with the arrival of islamic terror. At the same time, over the past 18 months many accused of key ETA roles have been arrested. Yet, while terrorism is now regarded in a different way, the Basque 'problem' continues to be a major theme in the news and the political agenda. more >>

News Theme: Big events in 2005, 400th anniversary of El Quijote

IN a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind... on just such a day as this 400 years ago... 2005 is the 400th anniversary of (part 1 of) the mother of all novels, Cervantes' Don Quijote, a book written under the eyes of the Spanish Inquisition but which expresses many ideas and quotes scripture at large. Evangelicals have not missed this fact and are hard at work to point out the references! more >>

News theme: weather and winter travel

Spain is not, contrary to its image, permanent summer! The tourist season is limited, even at coastal areas, except in the Canary Islands, to half the year. Winter, especially inland, is far harsher than it is in (mostly) mild Britain, so far further north. more >>

More News

A few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:

more >>