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Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

bbc.com

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Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#41

Post by flojito »

hummel wrote: post #34
nhnhhnl wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? Could you elaborate please. Genuinely curious.

Because it is a case of corruption that is quite irrelevant at the Spanish level, much less at the European level and totally irrelevant at the global level. Villarejo is an ex-policeman who is blackmailing public figures to avoid a long prison sentence for corruption and bribe. He is a very basic blackmailer and the article at BBC is some PR to give some air to his judicial defence. It is certainly not a relevant/in…

Quite irrelevant at the Spanish level? I don't agree. He is involved in the dirtiest affairs of the Spanish society, from the political parties to the monarchy, including the police force...

But, we agree on that, absolutely irrelevant for HN.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#42

Post by Erlich_Bachman »

nhnhhnl wrote: post #33
Erlich_Bachman wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Spain is a country with huge problems Any sources or further reading?

It's not, really, I've been living through most of Europe and Spain's quality of life is way above average, there's literally no homeless (except for people with mental health issues or foreigners) low/middle class people buy properties, there's development in every industry, etc. Edit: Downvoter care to explain? Please check this [1] NUTS 2 official data, half of Spain is above half of Germany [1] https://upload.wik…

Maybe because those things don't directly have anything to do with country being corrupt, which was the question? There could be some indirect connection, but corruption and quality of life are not exactly the same things.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#43

Post by kostarelo »

rinze wrote: post #17

If you understand Spanish, this podcast tells several stories about this guy and it's very good: https://www.podiumpodcast.com/v-las-cloacas-del-estado/

I'm currently learning Spanish and while I'm sure I will understand 50% of what they say, I will give it a try :P

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#44

Post by amval »

tgv wrote: post #35
amval wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's such a ridiculous claim that I have to assume you are spaniard. Spain is actually a pretty average EU country by most metrics. (Not to say that it doesn't have structural problems, but that's hardly exclusive to Spain)

Perhaps it isn't failed, but it is pretty corrupt, and it is not in good condition. I wouldn't call it "such a ridiculous claim", just good, old exaggeration.

Pretty corrupt compaired to what? Are Japan or France failed states? Both slightly lower in this aggregated ranking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index#2...

I am spaniard and am painfully aware of Spain's problems. And maybe spaniards being so critical of Spain could be something positive (instead of complacency or nationalism).

But honestly? The negativity is pointless and exhausting. Pointless because these are rarely informed opinions putting data into context. Exhausting, because uplifting news need to have an angle that to make them negative.

PS: And yes, I am not denying that there is a lot of corruption enabled by politicians in Spain. And it's a problem. But that doesn't make Spain a failed state. Or how is all of this true:

- Loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein - Erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions - Inability to provide public services - Inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#45

Post by Imaiomus »

amval wrote: post #22
marvel_boy wrote: post #4

This is Spain, corruption at all levels. A failed state.

That's such a ridiculous claim that I have to assume you are spaniard. Spain is actually a pretty average EU country by most metrics. (Not to say that it doesn't have structural problems, but that's hardly exclusive to Spain)

please point what level of the spanish state you believe its clear without corruption, i can point cases from bottom (trash collection) to top (chief of state)

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#46

Post by Imaiomus »

LiveFastDieYoun wrote: post #15
marvel_boy wrote: post #4

This is Spain, corruption at all levels. A failed state.

Any sources to support that "failed state" claim? Every country has corruption yet on the internet I only see spanish people saying their country is awful.

Nurses and medics and mos professionals run out of the country when they can

The economy without the ECB aid could have already crashed like 2 o 3 times in the last ten years

Spain judicial system not following the constitutional rulebook when ordering new top judges

Biggest airport 4 days block cause the snow machine workers are not rehired

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#48

Post by ErneX »

Imaiomus wrote: post #46
LiveFastDieYoun wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any sources to support that "failed state" claim? Every country has corruption yet on the internet I only see spanish people saying their country is awful.

Nurses and medics and mos professionals run out of the country when they can The economy without the ECB aid could have already crashed like 2 o 3 times in the last ten years Spain judicial system not following the constitutional rulebook when ordering new top judges Biggest airport 4 days block cause the snow machine workers are not rehired

You clearly have not seen a failed state 1st hand.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#49

Post by ErneX »

Imaiomus wrote: post #45
amval wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's such a ridiculous claim that I have to assume you are spaniard. Spain is actually a pretty average EU country by most metrics. (Not to say that it doesn't have structural problems, but that's hardly exclusive to Spain)

please point what level of the spanish state you believe its clear without corruption, i can point cases from bottom (trash collection) to top (chief of state)

You are exaggerating facts to justify your belief of living in a failed state. A failed state doesn't have the rule of law, education and health care that Spain enjoys. And I say this as a Venezuelan expat living in Spain since 2003.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#50

Post by _jal »

radycov wrote: post #38
loriverkutya wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not how the BBC works.

That's not how the old BBC works. PG's submarine applies to the BBC as well, no doubt, as well as foreign lobby groups.

If you have information that the BBC will sell stories, tell us about it.

If you don't, why are you pushing bullshit?

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