Editorial: Voting time

Better than nothing, but only just. Of course I am talking about our voting rights in the local elections later this month. We can vote in the council elections but we are unable to decide who becomes the Balearic President. Non-Spanish European residents can only vote for their Mayor not for their regional President. This is rather an outrageous state of affairs because local Mayors have limited powers. It is the Balearic President who can decide to raise taxes or introduce new legislation which directly affects us but still we can´t have our say. I would have thought that by now the Spanish government would have changed the system and given us greater voting powers. I thought the dawn of the new foreign voter  era 12 years ago would have led to more power. Also, we are unable to vote in Spanish general elections, so effectively we can´t decide who runs the country or the region where we live which is a scandalous state of affairs. By voting in the local council elections you are effectively telling the Spanish government that you are here to stay and therefore would like a role in how Spain is run. Also, there are many expats who have lived outside Britain for the last 15 years who can´t vote in their “home country” (Britain) and their adopted one (Spain).  If Spain is really serious about foreigners voting in elections here then it should extend their powers. I am sure we can be trusted to vote for the Prime Minister and the regional leader.