Valencians protest to demand Mazón’s resignation, government rental index sets prices 41 percent below market rates in Catalonia, and more news from Spain on Monday March 31st.
Valencians again protest to demand Mazón’s resignation for disastrous flood management
Valencians on Saturday took to the streets for the sixth time in five months to call for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazón for his poor management of the deadly Valencia floods in October, which left 228 people dead.
Thousands joined the protest, which was attended by relatives of the victims, as they marched towards the Generalitat building. The names of the dead were read out and a minute’s silence was held.
Demonstrators were also joined by opposition party politicians, though they did not organise the protest.
READ ALSO: Why Valencia’s president is being blamed for Spain’s flood devastation
Spanish govt rental index sets prices 41 percent below market rates in Catalonia
Reporting in the Spanish media suggests that one year after its implementation, a government index used as a benchmark for the rental market has set prices 41 percent below market rates.
However, the index has so far only been implemented for some new contracts in the Catalonia region, though the government intends for it to become a price reference for landlords and tenants throughout the country.
The difference between prices in the index and those shown on the rental websites reaches an average of €500 per month, 20 Minutos reports. Renting a flat in Spain is on average between 10.4 percent and 13.3 percent more expensive than a year ago, according to data from property sites Fotocasa, Idealista and pisos.com.
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Hermoso overlooked by Spain team for third straight time
Jenni Hermoso has been left out of Spain’s women’s team for the third consecutive time for next month’s Nations League games against Portugal.
Coach Montse Tome insisted the forward’s absence for the previous two games was a sporting decision and not “punishment” after the controversy over ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales forcibly kissing her at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Hermoso, who was last called up to the national side in October, plays regularly for Mexican team Tigres, so her exclusion has raised questions as the trial against Rubiales has now concluded.
In February, Spain’s top criminal court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him €10,800, sparing him jail in a sentence considered lenient by feminist groups.
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Number of retired Spaniards taking trips soars as workers cut back on travel due to high prices
Last year was a record breaking year for retirees in Spain who broke travel record by increasing the number of trips they took by 18 percent compared to 2023. From 19.3 million trips taken by pensioners in 2023, the figure rose to 22.7 million in 2024.
But in contrast, younger people who are still employed reduced the number of trips they took by almost 7 percent due to the prohibitive rising prices.
Retirees have seen their incomes grow even faster than tourism and hospitality prices. The average pension in Spain is now 27 percent higher than in 2019, while tourism and hospitality prices have increased by 22 percent over the same period.
The average salary in Spain has grown since 2019, but not enough to offset the rise in prices, particularly tourist prices, which have been more pronounced.
