Politics of Spain

Stephane Hessel inspired the Occupy Wall Street movement with his writing, and powered protest movements around the globe. But as those movements seemingly sputter out, Hessel had one more book of advice, specifically for protesters in Spain. It’s set to be released now, shortly after his death.

The extreme right has found a great deal of support as Europe’s economies lurch toward economic recovery. They’re typically anti-immigrant and often anti-European government. In Greece they’ve risen to national positions, but in Spain, unique circumstances are holding them back.

Spain’s Catalonia region went big for independence in this weekend’s elections. But, across the border in France, the Catalans are a bit more laid back. While they celebrate their heritage, they consider themselves French first, a Catalonian second.

Earlier this year, a well-meaning parishioner took it on herself to try and restore a 19th-century fresco of Jesus Christ at a church in northeastern Spain. But she botched the painting restoration and created an image so comical, now known as the Monkey Boy of Borja, tourists are flocking.

Spain’s new conservative government is making time from its efforts to rescue the country’s moribund economy and instead work on rolling back laws changed under the last, Socialist government. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has introduced a bill to re-criminalize abortion.