Another reason Spain is in the mess it's in: political affinity

Funcionaria at work
(Illustration only)

SPAIN 'Birds of a feather gather together' is the old adage about people and their affinities. Politicians, being people, are no different. In Spain, however, there appears to be very little meritocracy: you do not get a job or rise on the ladder of material success unless those who hire or pay you think you think like them. It's much the same anywhere else, really, except that Spain's recent history (in its 35 year democracy) the pendulum of political affinities swung very far to the left after the demise of Franco, almost as a revenge for nearly forty years of Fascist dictatorship. The Left governed for the first several years of democracy, and then the pendulum swung back and for several times. Now it's to the Right. The problem, though, is in attaining a reasonable standard of political maturity, not an easy task in such a young democracy.COMING SOON:

EU Commission and Council of Europe confronted by wages increase

BRUSSELS It happened before, in 2009: the European Commission and the Council of Europe are on opposite sides of the fence about a salary increase for Commission civil servants. In fact, last Monday the Council lodged a complaint at the European Court, although there is no set date for the process to begin. In its defense, the Commission, which approved a salary increase of 1.7% for 2012 and is debating whether to do the same, says it is only respecting treaties by using norms and regulations regarding such items as cost of living increases in Brussels, which in essence affects civil servants from 'only' eight countries. Nevertheless, the general opinion is that an increase at present is 'untimely'. (Note: are you confused by Commission and Council? - we're glad we're not the only ones...)

Spanish 'funcionarios' are hampered by a rigid system

SPAIN The word funcionario has its root in the same etymology as 'function'. Well, as most people in Spain will soon tell you (unless they happen to be one), many funcionarios don't function. Covering a multitude of levels and activities, a funcionario is basically a civil servant, a public employee. Spain is awash with them, often because it is very difficult to fire them, no matter how incompetent or uninterested they may be. Or, as the Councillor for the Economy in Catalonia, Andreu Mas-Colell, said recently, "They should be aware of the great privilege the stability of their employment is." What he wants is for those employed by his region, to work 'the same for less' or 'more for the same'. Fat chance, even though Mas-Colell went on to suggest 10 or 15 minutes more. Naturally the mere suggestion provoked spluttering reaction from the unions, who were probably having a coffee break at the time, whatever time it was. But to take this subject somewhat more seriously:>>>