Reflections on Gibraltar and Spain

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PSYCHE OF SPANISH POLITICIANS AND WHY ARE THEY SO MENDACIOUS? 

Shooting themselves in the foot is how to describe spanish politicians’ diplomatic skills in their dealings with Gibraltar, again and again and again.

No wonder their “Gibraltar wound”, as they call it, does not heal!!!

Recently, following a 10 minute conversation with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Rajoy agreed to de-escalate the current tensions. This is how it was reported in the British press.

What does Rajoy do the following day? Create more queues and continue the incursions into British waters. Not content with that, the imposition of an illegal frontier charge of a total of 100 euros to enter and leave Gibraltar was announced. Oh dear, was something lost in the translation?

What does this say about “Marca Espana”? 

A nation that has a president who says one thing and does another, as the Spanish nation and the world already know!!!

But if Rajoy keeps showing himself up in this manner, what hope is there for Marca Espana?

Marca Espana was launched in an effort to clean Spain’s image and promote a new Spain, but it could not have come at a worse time, as all it represents is how unreliable spanish politicians are. 

Will they be able to deflect the attention of the widespread political fraud and corruption scandals all the structures of Spain are infested with, including the monarchy? 

Will these anti-democrats ever shed the stigma of franco, and do they want to?

What has the most foreign of spanish ministers Margallo achieved with his lack of diplomatic skills “a lo franco”, if not worldwide condemnation by holding innocent citizens hostages in an 8 hour queue, in an act of pure undiluted revenge and to frustrate?

Is Marca Espana an improvement of the black bull symbolizing spanish bravura and power? The black bull a loser, a born loser, a poor pathetic tortured creature disabled before it makes its appearance in the arena? Very much like the spanish politicians disabled by their flawed arguments, and torturing themselves fantasizing that Gibraltar will ever stop being British.

Cervantes another symbol of Spain? They only go and name all their cultural centres around the world Instituto Cervantes in honour of their most celebrated satirist. 

But the Quijote was a figure of fun (a bit like Margallo)!!! And this is how spanish politicians go about their business like the Quijote chasing windmills and sheep and the impossible dream. Absolutely spot on Cervantes! 

Marca Espana expects the Government of Gibraltar to remove the concrete blocks that they say have sparked the present crisis by calling it a fishing dispute, when we all know it is a sovereignty dispute. Why not have the honesty and courage to call it what it has always been - A sovereignty dispute.

And the concern they show for the 300 families of fishermen they say have been affected by these concrete blocks. What about the livelihood and well being of 10,000 frontier workers being punished daily with created frontier queues? Not much of a balanced argument!

Hypocritical to complain about the concrete blocks when they have done exactly the same in 28 zones along the coasts of Spain. So if they insist Gibraltar waters are theirs does it make any sense to complain?

If spanish politicians are totally convinced Gibraltar and its waters are not British why not go to The International Court of Justice, why not put it to the test? What an opportunity to drag Marca Espana further into the mire!

But when arguments are baseless, what options are left other than the dirty tricks campaign and mendacity?

Marca Espana is an affront to democracy, the rule of law, common sense and honesty.

Isabella Caruana
Gibraltar