Four years after the 15-M movement declared that politicians did not represent ordinary people, and condemned widespread corruption, left-wing alliances such as Zaragoza en Común, Ahora Madrid and Barcelona en Comú, coming out of this movement, have taken power in many local councils across Spain (also Valencia, Santiago de Compostela, Zamora, Cadiz and La Coruña, among others).
The new mayors and their councillors have been elected on a platform of anti-austerity after public services have suffered devestating cuts in recent years. Mayor Ada Colau in Barcelona, Councillor Pablo Hijar in Zaragoza, and many others have spent the last four years working tirelessly to stop the wave of evictions of people from their homes due to the pressures of the economic crisis.The priority of many of these new councils is to negotiate with banks and the courts to put a halt to these evictions and also use empty properties to help with this social emergency.
In order to stay in touch with the people they represent, and in line with the sentiments of the 15-M movement, these new mayors and councillors have renounced the fat salaries of previous mayors and instead are accepting salaries of around 33,000-38,000 euros per year.
In Zaragoza,they have also renounced other privileges such as free cars, free seats at the theatre etc.
All major decisions, such as the division of tasks among councillors, go to open meetings to be ratified, with the aim of political transparency.
And today the rainbow flag is flying from the town hall in Zaragoza in solidarity with 'Gay Pride'.
Interesting times...watch this space for further updates on these developments, especially in relation to Zaragoza.
The new mayors and their councillors have been elected on a platform of anti-austerity after public services have suffered devestating cuts in recent years. Mayor Ada Colau in Barcelona, Councillor Pablo Hijar in Zaragoza, and many others have spent the last four years working tirelessly to stop the wave of evictions of people from their homes due to the pressures of the economic crisis.The priority of many of these new councils is to negotiate with banks and the courts to put a halt to these evictions and also use empty properties to help with this social emergency.
In order to stay in touch with the people they represent, and in line with the sentiments of the 15-M movement, these new mayors and councillors have renounced the fat salaries of previous mayors and instead are accepting salaries of around 33,000-38,000 euros per year.
In Zaragoza,they have also renounced other privileges such as free cars, free seats at the theatre etc.
All major decisions, such as the division of tasks among councillors, go to open meetings to be ratified, with the aim of political transparency.
And today the rainbow flag is flying from the town hall in Zaragoza in solidarity with 'Gay Pride'.
Interesting times...watch this space for further updates on these developments, especially in relation to Zaragoza.