Spain And Portugal: "the Worse The Next Year. So Yes They Will Come"

It is not clear which is the first thing. Maybe it's because of the time in Spain and Portugal have been enjoying Indian summer, it is unlikely glory clear, powder blue sky, warm as in June. As Juan put Darriba in Seville: "It 'hard to be down when you're blessed with that."

Partly, too, is the fact that here, so much life on the street. "We can not stay inside," said Encarnacion Codeseda in Huelva. "It is impossible for us. We have to leave. That's the way we are. And when you are, you can see your friends. You are gay. "

Part of it is down to pride. And because, as bad as things are, they could be worse. "The worst is next year" provided Ana Lobo, in Lisbon. "Now it is almost even in summer. In January, when it is cold and dark, electricity, public transport, the bread rises. Taxes also much more. And, pensions and benefits are cut. Then it will strike."

Whatever the explanation, it is not clear for a tour of the Iberian Peninsula, last week that the worst economic crisis since World War II had an influence. Café terraces are filled. Some stores may be put up, but many are open and conducting business. Life goes on.

As always in these times people do well - until, suddenly, no more. So there is no shortage of stories.

Luis Alves, a 30-year freelance artist, graphic designer in Lisbon, survives only because it works for customers outside of Portugal. "The market is dead. Banks are not lending. All economically and politically, is locked." Of all the social circle, he says, only two had adequate employment contracts.

Also, people talk of friendship with two or even three part-time jobs. There is anger, even on fragile little work is available: a system in Portugal is known as recibos Green, green or receipts, lead workers - hundreds of thousands today - to be employed on temporary contracts This does not provide social security or public holidays.

In Seville Darriba, also 30, has two degrees in international trade and industrial safety, but in addition to Citroën Relay in a factory and the Port of Galicia, it has only ever worked as a server. "Even when you cheat. They report that half or one third of your working hours, so they do not pay full social security. This means that if you are out of work, you can not claim benefits because you 've paid enough in. "

Many predict an exodus. In Huelva, where 45% of all children under 25 are unemployed, Dani Martin, a chef in training, only 20, but resigned to leaving. "I do not work here," he said. He had worked in a cafe in the summer, but the samples in the bars of Huelva fell by one third and the owner refused to pay. "I have worked abroad before and I'll have to get out of Huelva, Spain is likely to find suitable employment."

Crunch is the most difficult, the elderly can easily volunteer to younger generations who have grown cheap, seemingly unlimited credit, and the impression that Spain and Portugal relatively low wages (the Portuguese minimum wage is less than 500 €, or £ 438, per month) is not necessarily an obstacle to smart car or a brand new villa.

Who remembers the past in Portugal to improve eyesight. "We grew up in a different era," says Helen Martins, Loulé, Algarve region. "Portugal was bad then. We know how to live simply. A lot of elderly people here, especially in rural areas, still a little 'grow their own food. We shop sparingly and live a little.' Children are not the same thing. They do not know how to live his means. "

According to Martin, the apartments in the center of the city will be taken and sold at auction today is taking place almost every week: "Flats, a few years ago would have cost € 130,000, which sells for less than a third of who the money goes. do very well out of there. I know a man from Switzerland especially for an auction here. "

But there are real problems. Banco Alimentare Lisbon, or the food bank, the largest in Europe distributes 12,000 tons of food annually to approximately 250 local charitable organizations helping to feed up to 160,000 people last year. The number has increased dramatically over the past two years, said Jose Almeida, a mining engineer retired allowing it to run. They ask for food, he says, "are not those that you would normally expect." He added: "Couples who both had good jobs and a high standard of living ... so similar, are laid off, and they can not follow in cars, mortgages, school, they turn to charity .. " Last year, lawyers, engineers, even a judge asked for help, he said.

So that people blame? There is anger, clearly, on the banks.

"They threw money at people," said Martin. "They gave the impression that it was Christmas every day."

Spain, property developers, financial institutions and politicians that feed the wild boom in property, to come to the players. No hard feelings, even in the state apparatus is seen as too large, inflexible, outdated and over-hanging the cards, the last appeal continued.

"It seems there" said Renny Jackson, a professor of English, "an almost total lack of agreement among most of what government does and what people really need. To be legally independent from Spain cost € 250 per month, more than a third of my income. So many people are forced into the underground economy. "

Politicians of all stripes are gone. "So a lot of waste, a lot of corruption," said Dale, a Spanish journalist. "In all elections, millions and millions have been wasted in cities throughout Spain as the new municipal councils to stop expensive projects initiated by his predecessor, and starts his new staff."

Elected leaders of both countries, people say, is miserably to respond to global processes in the past decade (globalization, and trade in Eastern Europe and Asia), which is below the economic advantage of Spanish and Portuguese in Europe - Low wages. Too much money in Europe, rather than invest productively left a huge vanity projects.

"We have two highways between Lisbon and Porto, but the investment in technology from scratch," said Manuel Lourenço, a Portuguese businessman, "We have a lot of sports, but we did not spend on education. We have a huge increase in the services sector but we have destroyed our manufacturing Nothing can be done now -.. money was used "

It recognizes the need for "a whole new way, a very participatory politics", and, Alves said, "a system that works well for everyone, not just profit," which will help the growth of the region Indignados. But there is a feeling, certainly in Spain, which is not entirely the fault of the government.

Darriba said: "Northern Europe, I think people realize that if you do not pay taxes to health, education, everything suffers, that's all, I can not see all this waste, the useless, and you think, because I give the money ... for this? So here, you know, if you do not pay taxes, you're a smart guy. and I think we have a lot of wise guys in Spain. "