Vox not populi
As editor, I must say it's sad to see at least four domestic or gender violence news stories in this week's edition.
Our critics say we should not publish so many crime stories, but if we ignore this or play it down, where would this lead us? Probably into the same lane with extreme-right wing party Vox.
While incidents are being reported and confirmed (not made up) throughout the country - and more specifically in Callosa, Villajoyosa and Murcia this week - some chose to turn a blind eye and claim, like Vox has, that only 3% of such incidents are 'real', the rest 'invented'.
Can some people really ignore the bruises, cuts, emergency operations and, sadly, the funerals of the victims?
Can you honestly walk up to the 19-year-old who was gangraped in Callosa on New Year's Eve and tell her she 'made it all up'?
Shame on you if you dare to! Because effectively you are assaulting them once again, and ignoring it is not going to work either - this is not 'Fake News'.
But let’s not forget that halfa-million people in the Andalucía region voted for these people and their proposals. And what is even more surprising is that a large number of women are backing this alt-right party.
Forgive my limited masculine mind for this thought, but how can women support a party that has openly demanded the scrapping of all gender violence laws and the withdrawal of funds from all domestic violence aid associations? I'm sure I'm missing something here, but please someone, preferably a female Vox supporter, tell me what on earth it is!
I've even given close thought to change the name of this section as the word Vox has shamefully begin to sound repulsive to many in Spain.
Of course, we can respect opinions, but when they lead to violence and murder we must draw the line. Because Vox's hazardous creed does not stop at that.
Admittedly illegal immigration, regional nationalist education and in fact regional governments themselves are issues that many Spaniards and expats alike would love to amend - but I'm pretty sure we can do better that 'abolish', deport without question' and similar actions.
Let’s not forget that us 'expats' could also be considered 'immigrants' - and that depending on the outcome of Brexit, we may even become illegal immigrants.
The demands Vox presented to the PP to support its new regional government also included the encouragement of gender-segregated schools, the protection and promotion of bullfighting and hunting, and the immediate deportation of 52,000 immigrants.
They even want to change the regional day from February 28 to January 2 to celebrate the Christian reconquering of Granada.
Some of the demands themselves are outrageous, the majority cannot be accomplished by a regional government and some are illegal under Spanish and EU laws.
But more frightening is the fact that despite considering them 'unacceptable' the PP actually sat at a negotiating table with them and eventually took on-board some of their proposals - admitted the 'lighter ones'.
In all fairness, some aren't too bad. For example having an 'a la carte' education system where parents can effectively object to their children taking lessons on subjects they do not agree with (mainly religious and sexual education matters). However, this is easier said than done.
Promoting traditional family values cannot be criticised either - although it will aggravate 'non-traditional' families and certain collectives.
Promoting Spanish culture is ok too, but this has already been done worldwide - however torturing bulls and sport-shooting animals is very hard to defend in modern society as being part of your 'culture'.
Even re-centralising some departments such as education (currently kids get a completely different side of the story depending on which region they live in, especially Cataluña), justice and security is worth considering. But when you put these at the bottom of you priority list with the first item being the change of the regional fiesta day - surely your credibility is wrecked.
Some justify the late blooming of an organised extremeright wing party in Spain saying 'the same is happening throughout Europe' - well so did the plague in the dark ages and I can't believe anyone thought it was a trend worth following at the time!
Vox has come about because in Spanish eyes the bid for independence in some regions and the far-left influence in others has caused a general feeling that Spain is breaking up, and sadly they appear to be right - but in this case extremely right. We have always been told extremes are dangerous, yet we now seem to find them trendy.
Let’s just hope for the sake of 'macho' violence victims such as the Callosa 19-year-old that this is not the case with Vox and the rest of Spain.
Indeed let’s hope that in this case Vox is not populi.