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- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Built on corruption
Many Spaniards assume the business and political life
of their country to be rife with corruption. Police chiefs
have been caught embezzling funds while politicos
allegedly take payoffs from construction firms as the
once beautiful eastern coast becomes swathed in
concrete. Marbella in particular has been blighted by
corruption. In the 1990s Jesús Gil, a now legendary (and
dead) figure of recent Spanish history, became mayor. A
car salesman turned property developer turned football
club owner, Gil endured dozens of court cases before
finally stepping down in 2001, banned from public office
for misusing his position. Many assume he bribed his
way out of more serious guilty verdicts.Then, in 2006,
Operation Malaya saw the top brass of Marbella town
hall, including mayor MarisolYagúe, arrested over
bribery, money laundering and property development
offences. Meanwhile, thousands of Marbellíes wait to
see if their houses will be bulldozed because they were
illegally built.
Life in the big house
Spain’s prison service
is under considerable
pressure, inmate
numbers having more
than doubled since the
1980s. Lengthy remand
periods for people
awaiting trial compound
the problem. Despite
these issues, Spain’s
prisons are as well
maintained as virtually
any in Europe.
