Spain + Obama + Guantanamo Prisoners = Better U.S. Relations?

After Spain's Socialist Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was indirectly rejected by President Bush (pertaining a no-invite to Washington) he is rather elated to have President Obama in office. Spain having a more left sided point of view when it comes to politics, is hopeful in future foreign policy decisions with the U.S. and progressive developments in several other countries.

The meeting between Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Spain politician, Miguel Angel Moratinos posed for positive growth between the U.S. and Spain. At the meeting, Moratinos told Clinton he would accept prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. "The new Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has with her words and messages marked a new stage, in which Spain can have an active and much more intense role in the world," said Moratinos, according to an article.

What will Obama's presence in the office do for Spain? Well Spanish officials hope for a more "multilateral foreign policy approach and be favorable to Spain and their special areas of interest such as Latin America and North Africa. Along with these new developments, Spain would also like to see more of a development in Afghanistan.

In regards to the prisoners, Moratinos says they will determine the minimum and maximum accepted on a case by case situation.

All in all, they hope for more of an opportunity for an open relationship now that Obama is in office - providing for a better foreign policy foundation, and stronger more welcoming relations with the U.S.

Spain Proud of Penelope Cruz's Well Deserved Oscar Win

After a long night at the Oscars, Penelope Cruz went home with the Oscar for best supporting actress.

Cruz, who was nominated for best actress in 2007, is the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar. Her performance in Woody Allen's movie "Vicky Christina Barcelona" as a fiery ex-wife is what landed her the award.

The major publications in Madrid held off on their editions of the Monday morning paper, as they all held a spot for the marvelous Cruz.

Cruz was praised by several admirers, including director Pedro Almodovar, and Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez who praised Cruz on her win by saying it, "places Spanish actors and actresses at the highest level" according to an article.

According to an article, Mariano Rajoy, conservative opposition leader said in Cruz's honor, that the Oscar pays tribute to, "your natural talent and your effort, and continued sacrifice in a job well done."

(Photo credit: www.celebla.com)

Abortion Policy to Change

Spain recently, Wednesday, made decision to loosen its currently restrictive law on abortion. The mention of the policy change has stirred up trouble between what has been called, "a Socialist government that has already introduced sweeping social changes and conservatives and Catholic clergy bent on preserving traditional family values." (GMANews)

The newly changed policy, from parliament, is said to suggest to the government that it be done in the early stage - posing for stronger restriction of the progression of the pregnancy. As it stands currently, abortion is a legal offense. The ability to perform the abortion, however, is readily available under the current system - the law states that the abortion may be performed "in the first 12 weeks in case of rape, and 22 weeks in case of fetal malformation". The only requirements are for a certification of health (mental and/or physical) stating that proceeding with the pregnancy would be a risk.

Being that Spain holds a strong Catholic population, this has brought a lot of attention to the forefront. Parliamentary spokeswoman for the opposition Popular Party, Sandra Moneo, believes, "Abortion is bad. It is bad for women and it is bad for society. A woman cannot have a right to something that is bad for her." The church's reaction? They have held several pro-family rallies which have drawn thousands of people - reflecting back on the man Roman Catholic priests and nuns that were killed by Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.

Opinions from the opposing, Dr. Sergio Munoz, spokesperson for an association of Spanish abortion clinics says that it is necessary to protect women and doctors from unnecessary lawsuits, but is hopeful for more specifics.

The newly adaptations to the current law say that this provides for more respect for women, allowing them to make the decisions which directly effect their bodies - without doctor's approval.

Last year, over 100,000 abortions were performed in Spain.

Judicial Strike

On Wednesday, February 18th, more than 30 Spanish provinces were represented by judges who went on a one day strike - due to the lack of judges, and the excess of work faced by the current judges, according to an article.

The judges were led by 21 local judges assemblies, and the AJFV, Francisco de Victoria Association and FJI, Independent Judicial Forum. What exactly are these judges so upset about? Adoption of electronic technology, which primarily controls the excess workload for Spain's estimated 4500 judges. The country's Minister of Justice, Mariano Fernandez Bermejo, responded with an offer to discuss the issues at hand, but will also be administering a law which limits the ways in which they may assert their rights given their status in government - which the already challenging judges said they would fight.

Country's King and Queen travel to Florida

King Juan Carlos I (Carl’s Jr.) and Queen Sofia arrived at Naval Air Station Pensacola for a 17 hour visit yesterday. The nature of their visit is to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Don Tristan de Luna's arrival in 1559 to Pensacola Bay, and celebrate the . The visit will last about 17 hours, and the King was said to have shocked Floridians as he showed up in a "fancy suit" versus the traditional royal garb.

(Photo Credit: www.royalnews.wordpress.com)

Spain Issues First Passport

Spain recently, February 5th, 2009, issued its first of 200.000 passports to qualifying Cubans. The passports are given to those who qualify for Spanish citizenship under their historical memory law. This law, which recently created, applies to those decedents who's mother or father were Spanish and the grandchildren who fled.



The sole purpose of this passport process is to compensate for the victims of Spain's 1936-1939 Civil war. Since the law has been passed on December 29th, over 25,000 applications have been submitted.

Many of the applicants do not feel as though this will be the return to a strange land, but to where they've always belonged.