Madrid and Caracas in dust-up over political prisoners.
Rodrigo Rato detained in tax fraud probe.
Bank of Spain upgrades growth to 2.8%, IMF follows suit with 2.5%.
ACS wins €1.85 billion Canada bridge contract.

http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/bbbc96804818c83bb61ff68072069ee2/116_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=bbbc96804818c83bb61ff68072069ee2

http://www.blog.rielcano.org/en/conflictive-centenaries-armenian-genocide-gallipoli/

After a lean period Spanish companies have returned to acquiring firms abroad, in another sign of the economy’s quickening recovery and increased business confidence.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-spanish-companies-in-new-wave-of-acquisitions#.VRROGDvF-iY

Highlights: Felipe González to defend jailed Venezuelan opposition leaders; Socialists hold onto Andalucía in new political landscape; Bank of Spain intervenes in Andorran bank following US accusation of money laundering; Foreign direct investment in Spain up by 10%.; Banco de Sabadell to buy UK’s Lloyds TSB.

http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/40c76c0047c5b2bf9139bf72bea93c13/115_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=40c76c0047c5b2bf9139bf72bea93c13

Spanish banks are conquistadores. In the latest drive to conquer banks abroad, Banco de Sabadell has boldly offered €1.7 billion for TSB, the UK retail bank carved out of the ailing Lloyds Banking Group two years ago.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-spanish-banks-internationalisation-sabadell-offers-to-buy-uks-tsb#.VQmOi2TF-iY

The far left anti-establishment Podemos (‘We can’) is not the only party that is challenging Spain’s discredited two-party system that has given the country stable governments for more than 30 years.
The centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens’ Party) is rapidly gaining support outside of its Catalan base.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-ciudadanos-gains-ground-in-spains-new-political-landscape#.VP4C7WTF-ib

Spain’s merchandise exports rose for the fifth consecutive year in 2014 and set a new record, but their growth was the slowest since 2008. With the economy now firmly recovering, thanks to stronger domestic demand, this slowdown raises the question of whether the export success will tail off.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-spains-merchandise-exports-continue-to-flourish-but-lose-steam#.VPFyG7PF-iY

Spain presses for dialogue over the Ukraine, not military aid. Podemos consolidates itself as the leading party, Ciudadanos rises. Spain’s foreign population, second largest in European Union. Spain’s growth set to accelerate. Airport operator AENA in Europe’s largest initial public offering.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/ad4c1400476d2ec6b1baf5a6f6757d0d/114_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ad4c1400476d2ec6b1baf5a6f6757d0d

The Spanish economy is gaining momentum at a faster pace than expected, as evidenced by the constant upgrading of the GDP growth forecasts for the country by the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.
Click on the title for the link.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Felcano%2Felcano_in%2Fzonas_in%2Fcommentary-chislett-why-is-spain-recovering-faster-than-expected#.VOdHXLDF-ib