It hasn’t been a big year for elections in Australia, but worldwide it’s been quite interesting. Crikey counts down the 10 elections that mattered in 2011.
Spain
The right time for a left revival in cash-strapped Europe
Despite all the talk of crisis, there has been no sign of Europeans rejecting orthodox economic consensus that blames unsustainable levels of government debt and warns that recovery is going to be painful.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Who’s to blame for the market meltdown?
Crikey readers have their say.
Adios to the world’s most famous restaurant
After 25 years, Spain’s elBulli restaurant — the place that brought foams and smoke to the culinary world — closed its doors on the weekend. TIME magazine was there for the final fiesta.
Hacktivism ethics debated as Spain cracks down on Anonymous
Following the arrest of 32 people allegedly involved in Anonymous, Spanish Police claim they have delivered a major blow to the hacktivist group. Anonymous have responded, arguing they were engaged in peaceful protest, reports Mike Lennon.
Por fin, the Spanish protest unemployment with a touch of fiesta
It’s been dubbed the “Spanish Revolution”, reminiscent of the workers uprising and social revolution in Spain during the civil war in the 1930s. The sad thing is, most of the thousands filling the streets of Spain in recent days are only wannabe workers.
Political snippets: Labor in South Australia
Is the Labor Government of South Australia controlled by the Catholic Right?
travel 
Following Gaudi to Mallorca
Dr Terry Cutler takes a stroll around the Spanish island of Mallorca. It’s much more than Christopher Skase’s hideaway, instead a treasure trove of architectural gems, Catalan Gothic cathedrals and touches of Gaudi.
On the rise: European unemployment continues to climb
Unemployment in Spain, where the community of international bankers is calling for even tougher budget measures by the government, has now reached 20.7% according to the latest figures from Eurostat, writes Richard Farmer.
World Cup: Yo soy español! A patriotic media celebrates the Cup
In Madrid’s wide boulevards they’re celebrating a World Cup win. And local media is enraptured, as it tweets, blogs and photographs the fiesta madness, writes Elisabeth Lopez.
The FIFA World Cup open thread: España, Campeón del Mundo!
After 63 matches of football, we have our champions. Congratulations Spain on winning your first ever World Cup. Johnston Street, Fitzroy must be going off right now…
The pain in Spain
There’s no fiesta in Spain, with Fitch Ratings stripping Spain of its AAA credit rating, unemployment over 20% and massive debt issues. Did this all happen because Spain joined the Euro?
Olé! How the cajas have Spain by the cojones
Spain’s economy has been stumbling, yet their major banks aren’t suffering. Why? Because cajas — non-profit banks responsible for half the country’s loans — are bearing the brunt of defaulting loans and losses in the billions.
World’s economies steering different paths
A flood of figures and announcements from governments on Friday tell very different stories about where some of the world’s major economies are a month into 2010.
PIGS might fly when it comes to public debt
Rising public debt is a key challenges facing world economies, with many countries with debt to GDP ratios over 100%. And it’s the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) who are at the most risk, explains Mark Crosby.
We need new fast trains … fast.
We are all to blame with our pathetic mimicking of the American arrogant entitlement to drive anywhere we want. But fast rail lines, like those seen in Spain, are exactly what Australia’s public transport system needs.
Spain’s stolen generation
During General Franco’s dictatorship, an estimated 30,000 Spanish children ‘disappeared’, taken from their families and sent to live in orphanages or with Franco supporters.
Emaciated EPL stares down the Continent
The hooplah over tonight’s English Premier League kick-off comes after a summer of record transfers to Spain, writes Martin Pegan.
Spain’s ‘war on terror’ a different ball game
Basque terrorist group ETA has stubbornly survived for 50 years. Spain’s government must remain calm, even with recent deadly attacks, writes Peter Preston.
The best bank you’ve never heard of
While banks around the world drown under the GFC tidal wave, Spain’s Banco Santander is surging ahead and look likely to make the largest profit of any Western bank this year. So what are they doing right?
Killing nuclear: energy politics in Spain
Unpopular Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero wants to close down the country’s oldest nuclear power plant by 2013, but his critics are questioning if this is desirable.
Olé! Cocaine all over Spain
No wonder those Spaniards have a reputation for being party animals — what with all that fiesta and siesta. It seems that the air in Spain is full of cocaine.
Spain can take George Bush to court
A Spanish judge has announced a formal criminal investigation into Bush officials involved in torture policy.
Spain bracing for deflation
Faced with plunging orders, merchants across this recession-wracked country are starting to do something that many of them have never done: cut retail prices.
