Thread: Protesting Spanish Cops: "Forgive Us For Not Arresting Those Truly Responsible For Th

Protesting Spanish Cops: "Forgive Us For Not Arresting Those Truly Responsible For This Crisis: Bankers & Politicians"



Submitted by Tyler Durden on 11/18/2012 09:36 -0500

Yesterday, in what is an appetizer to the great 2013 convergence trade (that, between the now thoroughly dead Greek and the Spanish economy, which is rapidly getting there, of course), several thousand Spanish policemen took the streets of Madrid protesting the latest round of austerity, which included frozen pensions and the elimination of the Christmas bonus (they will have many more opportunities to protest not only the loss of any future upside, but the eventual cut of existing wages and entitlements). As RT reports, protesters blew whistles, shouted slogans, and carried anti-austerity banners as they marched through the city centre to the interior ministry. But perhaps the most telling message read on one of the slogans, was the following: "Citizens! Forgive us for not arresting those truly responsible for this crisis: bankers and politicians."
And there you have the entire current cluster**** summarized in one simple sentence: because as long as those responsible for the ongoing economic collapse, which will inevitably end in war as many have observed, Kyle Bass most recently, are not only not arrested but preserve their positions of power, any and all change will merely be cosmetic and any real change will only affect the bank accounts of the global middle class which are slowly but surely drained to zero.
More from RT:

The Spanish government has imposed harsh spending cuts aimed at saving 150 billion euros between 2012 and 2014. The move has been met with anger and protests from hundreds of thousands of Spanish citizens.

The austerity measures are in exchange for a rescue loan of up to 100 billion euros from the EU to help the country’s stricken banks.

"The problem is they take from us to give to others, like the autonomous regions and the banks," 33-year-old police officer Antonio Perez told AP.

But it’s not just their pay the police are worried about.

A spokesman for Spain’s Unified Police Union, Jose Maria Benito, said the cuts will affect the nation’s security, adding that working conditions have become more precarious and law enforcement equipment was no longer up to standard.

“We are here to tell the government that security has to be its priority…in socially convulsive times, we need an adequate police response,” Benito told AP. He added that 15,000 workers who have left the force were not going to be replaced.

"Each year, between 1,500 and 2,000 police officers retire and 125 are recruited, which means in three or four years, there will be more insecurity and crime in Spain," the union’s general secretary Jose Maria Sanchez Fornet said in a speech.

A picture summary of the event:

Spanish police officers take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)

Spanish police officers hold a banner of the Unified Police Union (SUP) depicting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (L) and Spain's leader of the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba and reading "They are the same" during a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)

Spanish police officers take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)


Spanish police officers hold banners of the Unified Police Union (SUP) and a giant banner reading "Against the cuts, all the policemen together" as they take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)


Spanish police officers take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)

Spanish police officers march past police vehicles as they take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on November 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)

Protesting Spanish Cops: "Forgive Us For Not Arresting Those Truly Responsible For This Crisis: Bankers & Politicians" | ZeroHedge

Spain Begs Former Colonies For Bailout

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 11/17/2012 16:44 -0500

• LatAm

Irony of ironies. While the world awaits the Spanish request for 'help' from its friends in Europe (which the market 'hopes' will escalate to EUR740bn very rapidly), it seems the King of Spain and his trusty Prime Minister have another cunning 'inverse-conquistador' plan. AP reports that "Spain receives Latin American investment with open arms," as Rajoy asks the former LatAm colonies to help.

Falling back on the assured quid pro quo, Rajoy said Spain had invested heavily in Latin America during its crisis 10 years ago... so fair's fair right? Now that the roles were reversed, he called upon those nations to increase their participation in his struggling empire's economy. The perfect irony is complete as the Iberoamerican Summit at which he was begging speaking was held in Cadiz - the country's main gateway for importing Aztec and Inca treasure!

Via AP:

CADIZ, Spain (AP) — Spain's prime minister on Saturday joined its king in asking former Latin American colonies to help the EU nation overcome a deep financial crisis by channeling investments its way.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain had invested heavily in Latin America when it suffered a crisis 10 years ago, and now that the roles were reversed, he called upon those nations to increase their participation in his country's economy.

"Spain receives Latin American investment with open arms," he said.

Rajoy was speaking at the Iberoamerican summit being held in Spain's southwestern port of Cadiz, once the country's gateway for importing Aztec and Inca treasure.

King Juan Carlos made the same plea Friday, saying "our eyes turn to you, we need more Latin America."

He added that Spain had "seen difficult situations emerge caused by the financial and economic crisis."

Spain Begs Former Colonies For Bailout | ZeroHedge