By John Smith • Published: 04 Mar 2016 • 15:38
Jose Maria Margallo
ON MARCH 4, the Gibraltar government issued a press release alerting those in Gibraltar of a radio interview on Radio Nacional de España which took place that morning with interim Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Maria Margallo where he made it clear in the event of a vote for the UK to leave the EU he would then raise the question of Gibraltar on the very next day.
This gung-ho statement by the 71-year-old who may see a position in a future government if there is a new election in 2016 and his party the PP reverse all of its losses and returns to power is unsurprising, but there is little that he can realistically achieve this year apart from rattling his sabre.
The Gibraltarian position is that his comments are perfectly consistent with the analysis contained in the UK Report which in the previous week highlighted the possibility that Spain could take advantage of a Brexit in order to close the frontier.
The press release also reminded the world at large that in 2013 Mr Margallo floated the idea of a frontier toll in order to charge motorists driving into Gibraltar. This was not proceeded with after the European Commission let it be known that such a toll would be contrary to European Union law.
The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC, said: “This is exactly the type of attitude that we have come to expect from Snr Margallo and it no doubt pervades so many others of his mind set. It usefully sets out the danger that those who choose Brexit potentially create for Gibraltar if there is also a Partido Popular government in Spain in the future. This is as vivid an illustration as possible of that”.
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Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
This is exactly what we would expect fromÃÂ Jose Maria Margallo and his ilk. It only serves to indicate the dangers we British expats would face here in Spain from another Spanish PP government if it was set free to do whatever it wanted to us following a Brexit.
The right wingers in Spanish politics hate the Brits. The Spanish people love us but their right wing leaders hate us. Back in 1975 I drove from Scotland to Algeciras just across the bay from Gibraltar where I took a car ferry to Ceuta and then drove all the way through Morocco to the Sahara! It was the trip of a lifetime but when I got to Algeciras and wanted to visit Gibraltar the border was closed. I could see Gibraltar clearly from Spain but the Spanish would not let me in. Hard to imagine now with both Britain and Spain full members of the EU. However this article only serves to indicate how easily that could change if ÃÂ the UK quits.
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