- FRANCE 24

25/04/2012 - SPAIN

Spain's stolen babies

Over a period of decades, as many as 150,000 newborn babies in Spain were stolen from their mothers. The latter were told that their children had died during birth, although they were never shown the bodies. The stolen infants were put up for adoption by families deemed suitable by General Franco's regime. This complex web of deception involving doctors, nurses and nuns continued long after 1975, when Franco died. Our correspondents report from Spain.

17/04/2012 - SPAIN

Spain's mini-Greece

Concerns are mounting that Spain will be the next Eurozone country to seek a financial bailout. Not only is the central government struggling with debt, but so are local authorities, particularly in Jerez. The Andalusian city, known around the world for its sherry business, owes some 950 million euros and some are calling it a mini-Greece. It's widely thought Jerez and other Spanish towns and cities will have to receive financial support from Madrid.

29/03/2012 - SPAIN

Living the vida low cost in Spain

Today in Spain, 63% of workers earn just 1,000 euros a month and 23% of the active population is unemployed. Cash-strapped Spaniards are now looking at alternative ways to get the goods they need, and bartering is making a comeback with shops introducing point systems. Protest groups are also emerging against the price of living and austerity measures, such as the "I'm Not Paying" movement. Our correspondents speak to some frustrated citizens in Madrid.

23/03/2012 - SPAIN

The rain in Spain isn't falling on the plain

An extraordinary drought is expected in Western Europe this year, with some countries saying they've only seen 30% of their average rainfall. The United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain are among the worst affected, and the dryness is having a catastrophic effect on farmers' yields. In turn, this will drive up prices for fruits, vegetables and meat in countries whose economies have already been hit hard by the financial crisis.

14/02/2012 - SPAIN

Spanish govt to tighten abortion laws

"Neither at 16, nor at 18 - abortion - abolition." This was the slogan on a giant banner unravelled on the night of Mariano Rajoy's election victory in Spain. Now the Spanish government has announced that it aims to restrict access to abortion to cases of rape, serious health problems for the foetus, or psychological fragility of the mother. It would take the law back to the time before Rajoy's Socialist predecessor Zapatero made abortion a right.

24/01/2012 - SPAIN

Spain's judge Garzon in the dock

Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon faces a courtroom once again - but this time, he's the defendant. Garzon faces charges of breaking Spain's amnesty law, which prevents the prosecution of anyone accused of political crimes during the Franco years. The judge was investigating the disappearance of 114,000 people between 1936 and 1975, which he says were crimes against humanity, and therefore not subject to the amnesty law.

16/11/2011 - SPAIN

Can the 'Indignados' influence politics?

As Spaniards head to the polls on Sunday for a general election, we take a look at the "Indignados" - a movement that still enjoys widespread popular support, yet refuses to enter the political arena.

10/10/2011 - SPAIN

When cities go broke

Valverde del Camino is a Spanish city of 13,000 inhabitants with a debt of 55 million euros. The local police haven't been paid for six months. Sadly the town is not alone - hundreds of local councils across the country are riddled with massive debts.

29/09/2011 - SPAIN

Is Madrid turning its back on Romanian immigrants?

It's yet another blow to the supposed right to free movement within the European Union. Spain has been allowed by the EU to restrict its job market to Romanian workers. Madrid says it has to do this as it struggles with the highest unemployment in the EU. The number of Romanians in Spain has quadrupled in the last five years to more than 800,000, but now many of them feel ostracized and unfairly singled out.

(2) comments

20/09/2011 - PLANET HOPE

Spain: the end of violence against women?

Spain has been waging war on domestic violence. The authorities have created special courts, electronic tagging and a hotline for reporting violence. So how did this Latin country become a model in the fight against violence against women? We take a look at this Spanish success story.