Welcome to the tuSPAIN weekly review of the Spanish media. Cristina Marquez Arroyo de Camihort has selected a wide range of articles covering general news about Spain, politics, business and culture. We also invite you to view the latest news from Spain (in Spanish) at the web sites of El Pais, El Mundo, ABC and El Periodico

NEWS REVIEW
18 - 24 November, 1996

• BABY IN DRUGS OVERDOSE
• SALARY FREEZE STILL ON
• MAYOR PROMISES TO FIGHT ON
• 22-YEAR SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE
• SPANISH PRODUCE BLOCKED IN FRANCE
• CONTRACT FLEXIBILITY IN 1997

BABY IN DRUGS OVERDOSE

A two-month old baby was admitted to a Madrid hospital on Wednesday suffering from a heroin and cocaine overdose. The child was taken to hospital by its mother and grandmother who both said that it had inhaled smoke in the shack where they live. Doctors confirmed the drugs overdose. The parents had previously been detained by police for drugs trafficking. Later the mother stated that she had confused bottles when preparing the baby's feed.

SALARY FREEZE STILL ON

The Minister of Public Administration, Mariano Rajoy, affirmed on Wednesday that the Civil Servants' salary freeze will go ahead, as planned, in 1997. During a meeting of the Supreme Council for Public Administration Rajoy insisted that, despite the protest strikes by civil servants throughout the month of November, the government had no intention of changing its plans. He said that he appreciated that a freeze on salaries is never pleasant but that, at this moment in time, it is absolutely essential. The General Workers Union (UGT) said that many autonmous regions and Town Halls were looking for other ways to augment their workers' salaries.

MAYOR PROMISES TO FIGHT ON

Jose Antonio Rekondo, Mayor of Hernani since 1991 is almost constantly on the receiving end of attacks and threats by ETA sympathisers but on Wednesday he confirmed that he would not relinquish his post as a result of personal threats. Last Tuesday he was the victim of an attempted attack by 30 hooded youths who barged into the Town Hall. However Rekondo told reporters: "The most important thing for a Basque is to fulfil his promises and mine are with my townsfolk. No one will gain anything by throwing in the towel."

22-YEAR SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE

35-year-old physical education teacher, Juan Vicente Carrillo Garijo was sentenced to a total of 22 years imprisonment for sexually abusing 6 pupils aged between 8 and 12. The trial took place last week in Valencia and the school where the crimes took place, Centro de Estudios Marni was also found guilty for allowing the teacher to continue to work and to have contact with pupils while the case was being investigated. The school was ordered to pay the victims over 5 million pesetas.

SPANISH PRODUCE BLOCKED IN FRANCE

The French lorry drivers' strike which has blocked traffic throughout the main roads of France could seriously affect agricultural exports travelling from Almeria and Murcia in Spain. Already 2 million kilos of produce have been lost and Andalucia alone despatches 200 loaded lorries per day to Germany, Holland, UK and France. Although exporters have begun to reduce quantities leaving the country they have not stopped them altogether, in the hopes that the problem will be resolved. Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture is studying ways of demanding compensation from the French authorities. The French conflict is also affecting approximately 1,000 lorries from Murcia which are currently blocked in by the strike, each lorry costing 90.000 pesetas each day it is on the road.

CONTRACT FLEXIBILITY IN 1997

On Friday The President of the Government, Jose Maria Aznar announced that there will be more flexible employment contracts in the new year. Aznar said that the government could not turn a deaf ear to international economics and foreign investors anxious that Spain reforms its labour laws to enable greater flexibility. He stressed that if the unions etc. could not reach an agreement, the government would not hesitate to assume its responsibility for ensuring reform. He underlined that 1997 will be the Year of Employment in Spain and that it will be based on "the employment contract of the 21st century". A contract which will be agile enough to adapt to changing circumstances and with the facility to incorporate into the job market, students who need to earn to pay for their studies, women who need employment compatible with their family situations and the retired who might want to contribute to the workforce.