Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Apr 5

FEATURED ARTICLES: "It's time to file your income tax returns in Spain!" and "Spanish drought kept at bay by heavy Easter rains"

It was the week after Easter. Last week was something of a washout in much of Spain for the Semana Santa processions. This week, when Brits, Belgians and other Europeans have their school holidays and come over to spend their time on the beaches in Spain, has been much sunnier (except in Galicia) and temperatures are soaring up as high as 30ºC, at least in the south. However, there is another one of those calima Saharan dust clouds drifting over the country this weekend, making everything seem hazy and, when mixed with any pockets of rain, leaving muddy brown deposits on anything it touches.

Also this week, the start of the income tax return period in Spain, how the recent rains have affected the drought situation and a high-profile public figure arrested.

Tax time

It’s that time of year again when we have to present our income tax returns in Spain. The lottery that is the IRPF 2024 (will Hacienda give you money back or will you have to pay the taxman even more?) began on April 3 and the final deadline for filing your taxes is July 1.

A brief reminder: the income you’re filing for is from the calendar year 2023. Residents who live in Spain, who spend more than 183 days per calendar year in the country, who have any business or economic interests located within Spanish territory, and those who have a spouse or dependent children who are Spanish tax residents have to present their tax returns. People who don’t have residency in Spain have to pay the flat-rate non-resident income tax rate of 24% on anything they’ve earned in Spain and on any property they own.

One important change to be aware of this year is that all self-employed people, or autónomos, will have to submit their tax returns, regardless of how much or how little they earned last year.

You can do the whole thing yourself online on the website of the Agencia Tributaria tax office if you’ve got a certificado digital (highly recommended, regardless of whether you plan to do your tax returns online or not). But to be honest, if you don’t want to deal with more Spanish red tape and paperwork than is strictly necessary, you can hire an ‘asesor’ to do it for you. Much easier and isn’t too much a layout, really, if what you value is peace of mind of knowing that you’re properly complying with Spanish tax law.

As we’ve stated in previous weekly roundups, there are some new tax breaks that certain groups can benefit from as of this year, including a reduction in the taxable income of any salaried worker who earned between 15,000 and 21,000 euros last year, while the limit for minimum earnings before you’re obliged to present your tax returns has been raised from 14,000 euros to 15,000 euros.

You can also get a tax rebate if you’ve bought a new electric car, motorbike or electric vehicle charging point for your house; if you have young children; and on money you’ve donated to charity.

Finally, if you work for a company outside of Spain that is not in a tax haven, you are exempt from paying income tax on it up to 60,100 euros as long as the country you work for has a similar tax system to Spain.

But really, if in doubt, do hire a professional to do it for you!

The kiss that was heard around the world

Do you remember last August when the Spain female national football team won the Women’s World Cup? An exciting moment for Spain and for women’s football as it was easily the most high-profile Women’s World Cup ever, but it was overshadowed by the controversial kiss-on-the-lips that then-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, gave to player Jenni Hermoso after the match.

Did Hermoso give her consent? Was it gender abuse, sexual abuse or physical abuse? Or none of the above? These questions swirled around world media for months, with both Hermoso and Rubiales coming in for their fair share of flak.

Well, Luis Rubiales fled to the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic in disgrace shortly afterwards. He was there for months, but on Wednesday of this week he flew back to Spain, whereupon he was swiftly detained at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport.

Let’s be clear: he wasn’t arrested over a kiss. No, rather there is a police investigation against him over alleged corruption. He is suspected of a rather blatant scheme of commissioning works and services to be provided by his mates, who then apparently paid handsome sums into a front company for him to collect the proceeds.

These purportedly illegal contracts, which he is supposed to have signed during the last five years while he was head of the RFEF, were the topic of conversation in the police interview held in a Madrid police station immediately after his return to Spain.

He was released from police custody just a couple of hours later, a free man for now. Sources from his defence team told media that he returned to Spain earlier than planned not because of a court summons but ‘because of his desire to return as soon as possible’.

So where does the kiss fit into all this? Well, Rubiales was so careless in covering up what are thought to be his crimes that, in hindsight, it seems incredible that he wasn’t arrested sooner. The explanation? Simple: he used to be untouchable thanks to his protection from very high up, until the world’s media spotlight fell heavily on him after he went up to the World Cup podium and gave Jenni Hermoso a smack on the lips. In the space of a second, he went from untouchable to public enemy number 1, and the rest of the allegations against him were inevitable.

Water, water, almost everywhere

While it’s obviously nice to have the sunshine and warm temperatures back, the rains of last week, if not the wind, was a blessing in terms of the worrying drought situation in southern and eastern Spain, from Andalucía up to Catalonia.

The Easter rains from Storms Mónica and Nelson brought much-needed relief to Catalonia, bringing the Ter-Llobregat system’s reservoirs above the emergency level set by the Special Drought Plan. Despite this, the regional government has emphasised the need to assess the situation comprehensively before lifting the state of emergency.

In Andalucía, the rains filled up reservoirs and eased fears of drought, with water levels across the region surging up to reach about 40% of their total capacity, which is approximately 4,800 cubic hectometres (hm3) out of 12,000 hm3.

This rise in water levels has been particularly notable in key areas like the Guadalquivir Demarcation and the Guadalete-Barbate basin, which have experienced increases of thirteen and six percentage points respectively. Even the Andalusian Mediterranean basins have seen a five-percentage-point rise.

Specific reservoirs, such as La Concepción in Málaga province, have seen remarkable increases, reaching almost 50% of their capacity.

There’s hope that this upward trend in water reserves will continue through spring, traditionally a rainy season in Spain. This increase is crucial for addressing water scarcity concerns in the region, especially with the possibility of another dry summer ahead.

It’s still not enough to totally rule out water restrictions for the summer, but for now restrictions on water usage in Andalucía, including plans to import desalinated water to major Andalusian ports by boat from Cartagena and the much-hyped bans on filling up private swimming pools, will be somewhat relaxed.

On a loosely related note, it has been revealed that, despite efforts to promote tap water consumption and reduce plastic waste, Spain’s bottled water industry continues to thrive, reaching record levels of production. Even with safe tap water available in most areas and despite environmental concerns and potential health risks associated with bottled water, consumption remains high, reflecting complex trade-offs between economic interests, sustainability, and public health.

Murcia

One way you truly know that spring has sprung is when the Fiestas de Primavera spring festival starts in Murcia city, heralding a celebration of local culture and tradition. Throughout the regional capital, traditional wooden barracas, which are sort of huts reminiscent of old peasant houses, are erected to offer a delightful array of typical food and drink from the region while visitors young and old dress in traditional, colourful peasant dress.

Among the festival’s highlights are the Bando de la Huerta, which took place on Tuesday, and the Entierro de la Sardina, which you can still catch on Saturday April 6.

And what do we do in spring? Why, get the gardening gloves out and start planting, of course. But hold on, I don’t have anything to plant. Not to worry, we can just get down to Águilas and pick up a free tree in exchange for taking them some garbage to be recycled!

This is an innovative project dubbed “Dale vida a tus residuos” (“Give life to your waste”), spearheaded by Águilas Town Hall with two aims: to promote recycling and to halt the dangerous spread of desertification, which is when local grassland and shrubland vegetation is threatened in arid and semi-arid areas.

The mechanism couldn’t be simpler. Anyone who brings their recyclables to the town’s ‘Punto Limpio’ recycling point can exchange them for young native forest trees, free of charge. These trees, including native species like Aleppo pines, stone pines, elms, and fig trees, will be planted to repopulate the municipality’s, contributing to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

In another development, Mazarrón Town Council has embarked on a significant undertaking to assume responsibility for public roads and areas within the Camposol urbanisation. This move follows persistent demands from homeowners over the past two decades for the council to address infrastructure and maintenance issues.

The transition involves shifting from the compensation system, tied to the now-defunct developer Justo y Manoli SL, to a cooperation system where the council assumes the role of urbanisation developer. To ensure transparency and legal compliance with Region of Murcia planning laws, the council has initiated a rigorous notification process, including door-to-door visits and official announcements to inform residents of the impending changes.

What does this mean in practice? Well, basically, if you live on Camposol you could soon be getting a visit from a man in a white van called Pedro who will inform you of the plan in order to confirm that you have been duly informed. The council has a legal duty to try at least twice to contact homeowners about the plans to address what is a very long-standing concern in the community, and to ensure their hands are no longer tied when it comes to making improvements to public elements of the urbanisation.

Onto another Murcia resort now, and La Manga Club is emerging as a beacon of growth in Spain’s luxury housing market, at least according to a study by Grupo Tecnitasa.

The resort, which has seen a significant uptick in demand and investment since the reopening of the Grand Hyatt hotel, is expected to be among the top luxury destinations that will see expansion in the second quarter of 2024.

According to property market analysts, La Manga Club offers an attractive investment opportunity, drawing primarily foreign buyers seeking exclusive amenities and premium real estate. The resort’s appeal lies principally in its stability and the potential for medium-term profitability, positioning it alongside other such esteemed luxury resorts in Spain like Abama Resort Tenerife and La Zagaleta, one of the most expensive places to purchase property in the whole country. Spain as a whole is emerging as a global leader in luxury real estate, but now the Region of Murcia is carving out its own niche as a coveted destination for discerning investors, especially at La Manga Club.

As well as the Entierro de la Sardina, there’s plenty coming up soon to enjoy in the Region, including shopping in Yecla and Isla Plana this weekend, a running race along the Mar Menor that you can watch in San Javier on Sunday, which is also 80s night at the Bokao Bar on Condado de Alhama, and a free guided tour in English of the historic thermal baths and museum of Alhama de Murcia.

It doesn’t end there! See our EVENTS DIARY for loads more things to do in the Region of Murcia:

Spain

Even as the water situation gives some measure of respite, we’re by no means out of the woods when it comes to environmental problems.

A new report has just revealed that Spain’s aviation industry is among the top 3 emitters of carbon dioxide in Europe, neck-and-neck with Germany and just behind the UK, which placed as the number one culprit.

The data reveal a significant rise in carbon emissions. In 2023 alone, the industry produced 172 million tonnes of CO2, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. Between the UK, Germany and Spain, they contributing to 84% of Europe’s total aviation CO2 output.

This surge in emissions, particularly the UK’s 24.20% increase, underscores the urgent need for action on climate change. The aviation industry in Europe is facing increasing scrutiny, and report authors Mabrian have emphasised the importance of measuring the environmental impact of tourism, urging holiday destinations to implement measures to mitigate their carbon footprint and work towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Still, the planet isn’t totally messed up yet and there are still natural treasures to be found, including in the oceans. Brittany Ferries has just announced an exciting Sea Safari package which offers passengers the chance to explore the ocean’s wonders on bespoke whale- and dolphin-watching expeditions on its Ireland to Spain route.

The three-night round trips from Rosslare to Bilbao will include expert-led excursions, with proceeds from each ticket going towards conservation efforts by whale and dolphin-watching charity ORCA. Passengers can upgrade their accommodations for enhanced comfort and enjoy the rich marine life of the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay. So far, there are four scheduled departure dates in July and August which give travellers the unique opportunity to combine adventure with leisure, exploring Bilbao before returning to Ireland enjoy onboard amenities and entertainment.

Talking of Ireland, a dramatic arrest of an Irish citizen was made public this week, although the incident actually dates back to February.

It relates to the arrest of an Irishman in the town of Rojales. He is described by police sources as being a “dedicated drug trafficker” and is currently being investigated in connection with a large-scale cannabis smuggling operation.

According to reports, the Irishman was part of a British-led criminal organisation that had been shipping massive quantities of cannabis, worth hundreds of thousands of euros, from Spain to Ireland.

The Guardia Civil, who led the investigation, said that the Irishman was a driver for the crew and that they had been monitoring his movements for some time. He was eventually apprehended while walking across a zebra crossing in Rojales, where he was dramatically surrounded by armed officers.

Meanwhile, in Spain’s Benidorm, three men have been sentenced to more than 8 years in prison each for the 2016 gang rape of a British holidaymaker.

The victim was attacked by the three men in a secluded area after they approached her near a pub in the popular Costa Blanca tourist destination. She was raped twice within a span of four hours, with the first assault occurring in a park near a football ground and the second near El Cisne flea market.

They also stole a watch and ring from her worth 365 euros.

Alicante

EasyJet has just launched its new base at Alicante Airport, marking a significant milestone in its expansion plans. The airline will now offer 22 routes connecting Alicante to various European destinations, providing passengers with greater flexibility and convenience when travelling to and from the Costa Blanca region.

The new routes will cater to a diverse range of travellers, with options including sun-drenched Mediterranean hotspots like Barcelona and Ibiza, as well as vibrant cities such as London and Paris. What’s more, easyJet promises competitive prices, with one-way tickets starting from as little as 29.99 euros.

The airline’s new schedule from the Costa Blanca will operate between March and October, providing customers with ample opportunities to explore the region's many attractions during the peak summer season. Some of the exciting new destinations include Birmingham, Southampton, Zurich, Nantes, Prague, Newcastle, Lille, Belfast, Lyon and Nice.

With the new base, easyJet has confirmed that it will offer 1.5 million seats in Alicante this summer season, representing a 10% increase compared to last year.

In the same breath, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Government delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, assured that – thanks to recent advances – the direct train link to Alicante airport from Alicante city and Elche now has funding that will ensure it is completed by the end of this decade, good news for air passengers flying in and out of the Costa Blanca.

From airport expansions to infrastructure improvements, the Orihuela government is finally going to tackle the outdated and dangerous tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada. With an investment of 4.4 million euros, the Crevillente-Cartagena section of the AP-7 will be completely overhauled.

The objective is to boost safety for drivers and minimise energy usage by refurbishing facilities and equipment, which will incorporate cutting-edge LED technology for smart lighting management.

As part of the revamp, the power supply, emergency lights, exit signs, emergency response stations, public announcement system, firefighting water network and ventilation systems will all be upgraded. In addition, fire detection cameras, traffic monitors and access control barriers will be either updated or installed.

While no official start date for the works has been given, sources indicate that the improvement plan will be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) very soon, which is the first step in the process.

Another very unsavoury problem has been disturbing the residents of the Orihuela Costa as overflowing rubbish bins and unemptied public waste containers has led to rat infestations in several urbanisations, according to local activist groups.

The Cabo Roig y Lomas Neighbourhood Association has taken to social media to share images of overflowing trash containers on dozens of streets, blaming inadequate resources and staffing for the issue, particularly during peak periods like the Easter holidays.

This has resulted in delayed waste collection, creating totally unsanitary environments that have attracted pests.

Areas severely impacted by this situation include Mil Palmeras, Playa Flamenca, La Florida, Lomas de Cabo Roig, Montezenia, La Regia, La Zenia, Villapiedra and Dehesa de Campoamor.

In reaction to the concerns raised, municipal officials confirm that a broken-down truck has caused some disruptions in waste collection, but they dispute the extent of the problem, maintaining that it is not as extensive as claimed by local residents.

A little further up the coast in Altea, real estate agents are sounding the alarm bells following a decision made by the government in January to freeze applications for new tourist accommodation licences. The authorities argued that there was already a glut of holiday homes on the market and inflated rents were pricing ordinary, long-term tenants out of the property market.

However, those in the business have seen a definite slow-down in investment, with hordes of potential investors blocked from purchasing tourist property in Altea and opting instead to spend their money in nearby Calpe, L'Alfàs and Polop.

In response to these concerns, Alday and three other agencies from Altea have formed a working group to address the issue.

Overall, the real estate sector believes that the current approach may backfire and ultimately harm the local economy. By limiting the supply of available long-term housing, the city may end up driving away the very people who contribute to its vitality and prosperity. As such, they are urging the local government to reconsider its stance and work together to find a solution that works for everyone.

Andalucía

More foreign nationals getting up to no good in Andalucía recently. A British man and an Irishman have been arrested in Málaga this week on suspicion of being involved in the dramatic shoot-up of a Marbella restaurant last month.

Thankfully, no one was injured in the shooting, which is believed to be related to members of an organised crime gang. During raids on their homes in Marbella and Estepona, the police found 31,190 euros in cash, a large machete and a revolver.

The arrests of the two men, who have been charged with causing damage, making threats, possessing weapons illegally, forging documents and violating immigration laws, took place on the same day that a 21-year-old man was shot in another part of the Costa del Sol. Police have ruled out any connection between the two incidents.

Police used an advanced vehicle-tracking method to apprehend the suspects, the same approach they used recently to capture three Swedish citizens accused of attempting to kill two of their countrymen in the area in February.

Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, made it very clear this week – Marbella will categorically NOT be getting a high-speed rail service any time soon.

Local politicians from the Costa del Sol city have been requesting such a transport link for some time now, but in a radio interview this week the minister ruled out that this is a viable option. In his opinion, the extension of the suburban train to Marbella would have too many stops along the way to make it truly high-speed. The trains just wouldn’t have time to speed up enough between stops to make it worth it. As such, he said, such a train would not be an attractive alternative for travellers compared to, for instance, going by car.

His comments come at the same time as he announced the imminent delivery of a fleet of new variable gauge, high-speed Avril trains from train manufacturing company Talgo which are to be deployed on the high-speed line from Madrid to northern Spain’s Galicia and Asturias. In these regions, it is necessary for trains to change their axle gauge to be able to continue running from Ourense and Pola de Lena, and the new trains, which are expected to arrive this coming Monday, should help to improve current journey times and frequencies.

No such luck for Marbella, though, with the minister concluding, “I do not want to raise false expectations.”

You may have missed…

Murcia photo of the month April 2024.
Here’s the top image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) within the theme ‘Spanish Architecture’, for which the winner of the monthly competition, Bob Gasston, strayed outside Murcia into neighbouring Andalucía to capture a snapshot of Córdoba’s famous Mezquita.
Murcia Services donate over 30 Easter eggs to Cartagena orphanage.
Estate agents Murcia Services, an expat-run real estate agent serving all of the Region of Murcia’s main golf resorts and urbanisations, gifted the Easter chocolate left over from their El Valle Golf Resort community egg hunt to the Hogar de la Infancia orphanage in Cartagena this week.
Spanish Prosecutor begins investigation into deadly Nolotil drug.
The Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court in Spain is looking into possible health concerns related to adverse effects linked to Nolotil, which the brand name of a painkiller that is banned in 40 countries around the world but widely available throughout Spain. It has been linked to dozens of cases of serious illness and even death, particularly among foreign citizens.
Watch the UEFA under-16s football tournament in San Pedro del Pinatar next week.
Between Friday April 12 and 17, the FA will be holding an under-16s international football tournament in San Pedro del Pinatar featuring teams from England, Italy, Belgium and Nigeria. It is absolutely free for spectators to go along and watch to support their team, which include some of the most promising young players on the international scene.
New hot tubs installed by Eurospas in time for the return of the good weather.
Eurospas specialists in spas and saunas have been busy installing hot tubs for Murcia and Almería villas recently in preparation for the hot and sunny weather.