From The Digital Editor
Walter Finch
Dear Olive Press readers,
Another week has come and gone in Spain which was kicked off by nationwide housing protests across dozens of Spanish cities.
The Olive Press was out in force at the protest in Malaga, which went onto the front page of the newspaper as protestors told us of their housing despair. There was a minority of anti-foreigner sentiment – especially among young people – but by and large the discontent was aimed at the politicians.
Perhaps they were listening, as we reported that Malaga city is considering a total ban on property sales to foreigners. Meanwhile, in Valencia they have cut the property transfer tax.
The big news coming out of the Costa Blanca this week has been our exclusive report on the conviction for fraud of so-called fashion boss Jody Smart. The Brit scammed around a thousand expats out of their retirement savings with the Continental Wealth Management fraud ten years ago, and her comeuppance has not come too soon for the victims.
We also revealed to you the tactics used by devious squatters to blackmail homeowners once they’ve gotten inside your property.
Storm Olivier brought yet more unsettled weather to Spain in one of the country’s wettest springs in years. The talk was of another ‘blood rain’ event, which coats cars and houses and anything outdoors in a layer of muddy dirt from the Sahara.
Meanwhile, the Iberian Funeral scandal rumbles on; our exclusive reporting confirmed that boss Stephen Nelson died alone in Portugal. Efforts are now being made to track down his wife, Karen Krejzl, who was last known to reside in Manilva.
It is, of course, Semana Santa, a week in which the whole of Spain puts on a show of religious processions and iconography unparalleled almost anywhere else in the world, set to culminate next weekend. Here is our report from Ronda’s Palm Sunday processions.
Over in Gibraltar, we heard doubts raised about the new police chief and the challenges he faces. He will take up the position in the shadow of a public inquiry into the dethroning of one of his predecessors, which also returned this week. Plus, the Gibraltar monkeys are terrorising teenagers again.
And we’ll leave you with the first in a new column from Britain’s richest plumber – and newly-minted expat in Spain – the colourful Charlie Mullins.
That’s all for this week, see you next time.
Best
Walt
Our mailing address is:
The Olive Press
Edificio Centro Comercial El Duque, first floor, Carretera N340, km 144.5
San Luis de Sabinillas, Malaga 29692, Spain
Copyright © 2024 The Olive Press, All rights reserved.
Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.
