Expats a political force in Spain

[brigadier Biggles]

Independent political parties dominated by expatriates - many of them British - are campaigning for the first time in Spain's local elections.

The BBC's Danny Wood examines this new phenomenon in San Fulgencio, in the southeastern province of Alicante.

Never before have European expats taken to the Spanish political arena like this.

They are the backbone of new political parties that have more expats on their lists of candidates than locally-born Spaniards.

Since the 1960s, the beaches, sun and affordable fiesta lifestyle have drawn millions of Europeans to Spain for holidays.

And not just holidays - there are now about 1.5 million expats resident in Spain, mainly British and Germans, many concentrated on the Costa Blanca around Valencia and Alicante, on the Costa del Sol and in the Balearic Islands.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6647443.stm

i highlighted that as, although its well deserved, the Germans and others are to blame for this as well as the British.

i feel sorry for Spain, not only does it get the muslims and blacks, but also these cultureless "expats" that are changing the landscape of a lovely nation believing they are alright to do so because they think Spain is better off having them rather than the darkies :nuts:

[harjit]

It reminds me of Westerners in Japan (especially feminist women), constantly hectoring the Japanese on what is wrong with their culture and telling them what to do.

The Japanese response is to bow and politely apologize, make some self-deprecating joke, but not change anything. :D

But Japanese obsequiousness toward foreigners sometimes has the final say.

The Japanese smoke much more than Westerners. I heard of one story where a Canadian anti-smoker chick raised a huge ruckus in her company. All manner of accommodation had to be made for her, the place was practically turned upside down. Apparently she was uncompromising and tenacious as a bulldog

[Baron_Corvo]

Personally I think Brits ought to stay out of Spanish politics as a quid pro quo for Britain being allowed to keep Gibraltar.