A Daily Sceptic reader has just returned from a trip to Spain and Italy and has sent us this guest post. Depressing reading.
One of the lovelier benefits to travel is the perspective it lends to life at home. Usually, this revolves around how the British sky and food is more dull than we realise, but after two recent trips to Spain and Italy one would be forgiven for thinking that Blighty is a post-Covid, liberal, free-thinking nirvana.
Both countries in question reported big Covid numbers – broadly in line with ours. Now both have similar vaccination levels and both are reporting broadly similar case daily numbers too. Their supine adoption of the ‘passport’ has been relatively well documented but but to walk the streets or beaches in either is to see a population cowed by face mask legislation. Masks are obligatory more or less everywhere indoors but it is the manner of their adoption which makes it all the more depressing.
Two nationalities (which one might playfully suggest are known for their selective application of some rules) have taken to the wearing of masks with quiet supplication. When viewed with the rapid dropping of masks we are enjoying at home this makes for a most depressing spectacle.
The farcical insistence that a face mask is worn when walking from a beach bed to a bar is barely credible yet the adherence is almost total. Equally, to see a solitary, masked parking attendant standing in a country lane is absurd as it is worrying.
The beautiful and ancient Fallas of Valancia this year were reconvened after the pandemic, but despite taking place in deserted streets the participants were still required to wear masks alongside their fabulous costumes.
Of course, there is the human element, our children grumbled at wearing a mask – it was uncomfortable, new for them and scary – and were barely challenged when they did not. But the fact remains that every other child was happily going about with a mini-mask strapped to their face.
One wonders if this can be traced back to their lockdowns. Neither country closed schools to any great extent but children were required to wear masks at school. Equally, neither had such a wholesale adoption of home-working as here and while offices opened earlier than in the U.K., many people wore masks at their desks and were often banned from using meeting rooms, asked instead to use virtual conferencing with their colleagues a few yards away.
I cannot comment on the mask hesitancy or counter-arguments that have been made – of which I am sure there have been many, but writing this in a charming pizzeria in Milan I note that I was reminded to wear my mask by two people upon arrival and had my temperature taken to walk the 10 paces from the door to the terrace – whereupon my mask is not required.
If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny.
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Chosen not to be vaccinated makes it unlikely we’ll ever get away again.
WANKERS 😡
Wow, brainless people on the beach in hotter countries wearing masks? That’s one of the heights of dumbness.
Having a dive in the sea with mask?
These people are so ignorant and ridiculous that I cannot find the right term to described it…
Just back from Sicily (Yellow zone – heightened risk). Similar experience in restaurants (including ‘green pass’ requirement – UK vax doc accepted) and hotels. Good news is that on the streets, where theoretically masks are required, 80% are not wearing them – thank god for some common sense ! I guess that despite the threat of a hefty fine, with this level of civil disobedience it becomes unenforceable for the police. I also found that wearing it mouth only, allowing me to breathe and no glasses fog, met with no reproach. So some progress at last and had a wonderful hol regardless.
Generalisation is oftentimes dangerous and here is a post conflating personal experience with a perception of cause. In Spain the various areas had different rules but this year in the Alicante province masks were not worn on the beach and recent restrictions have been released in Murcia.
On point is of note is that whatever the percentage portions of society believes that masks make them safe and vaccination cures. Covid19 is no longer a disease : it is a religion the dress code is a mask and initiation is a vaccine and confirmation a vaccine certificate
Masks are ineffective, pointless and harmful at the same time. It was known at the start of 2020 that masks are ineffective against respiratory viruses. No new high quality research has provided any evidence to the contrary since March 2020.
They are, quite obviously, a way to force people to be constantly conscious of a “threat” and to behave in all sorts of weird ways that are unnatural for humans. When people literally step off the pavement into the path of oncoming vehicles to avoid facing unmasked people, then you know that something is badly wrong with the concept.
It’s time to really follow the Science and drop the mask theatre entirely. If Susan Mitchie wants to wear a mask, she can go ahead and wear a mask, but as for coercing the rest of us into doing something that does nothing to reduce the transmission of the virus and creates vast quantities of unnecessary waste materials, forget it, evil commie bitch.
Having returned from the Peleopnnese and now being made to suffer for my non vaccinated status. I can report that the further down the peninsual I travelled the less attention was paid to the Greek Governments Covid pass.
The experiences of blatant discrimination which the poor beleagured and frankly government imposed impoverished Greeks have to impose were as follows.
Thos of us on arrival without the vaccine passports were pulled aside shoved into tented cubicles and made to take lateral flow tests, which the results would be then texted to us within the 24 hours. We were allowed to go about our normal travel plans whilst waiting for the results.
In Monemvasia, One night it poured with rain. The Restaurants and Bars would only allow the prrof of vaccination people inside. The “unclean” had to eat in the rain or just not eat.
We were not allowed on Public transport.
Shops you have to wear a mask, most had it slung under the nose.
In Hotels you don’t have to wear a mask the staff do, and you have to give permission for them to clean your room.
Apart from the rainy night when it was made blatantly clear what… Read more »
Utterly bizarre. You were made to take a test but all the jabbed, who as we all know (although have to pretend otherwise) are just as likely to be infected as the unjabbed, were allowed to enter and visit restaurants at will, whereas you were not.
There is zero justification for this, at least with regard to public health. If Greece were covid free and if the injections conferred any sort of immunity, there might be a case for operating this kind of discriminatory apartheid. As it is, there is none.
I know its just good old discrimination because we haven’t done as we are told.
Further example of the madness, on return to the Uk I had to take a test to prove negative Covid before flying back, the vaccinated did not, On return to the Uk I have to isolate for 10 days thus far I have had visits to my remote home by both Test and trace and the Police (because clearly they have no real crimes to attend to). I have to pay in total one hundred and sixty pounds for day 2 and day 8 tests, and a day 5 if I went to get out of jail earlier. The vaccinated do not have to isolate and only have to take a day 2 test.
So as the SAGE people say the “vaccine” does not confer immunity and it does not stop the individual transmitting, so the only differnec between a vaccinated and an unvaccinated person is the mark given by the Government that you are an obedient citizen, you get a pat on the head and some treats. The disobedient unvaccinated person has to be punished because of their disobedience. Because as far as the… Read more »
“As my vaccinated Brother said, “There are the few of you that haven’t taken it so what do you expect? they are going to come down on you”“
This is why I blame those who have taken the “vaccine”, apart from the small minority for whom there might be a plausible medical reason to do so, more than some others here do.
As soon as state and media lies and coercion began to be used to coerce compliance, it became a moral duty to resist, imo. Those who did not resist made life harder for their betters, who did resist. Morally reprehensible.
I agree.
In the words of Labi Sithri (forgive spelling)
“The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The further you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter, cos there’s
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that’s mine
My light will shine so brightly
It will blind you
Cos there’s
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Brothers and sisters
When they insist we’re just not good enough
When we know better
Just look ’em in the eyes and say
We’re gonna do… Read more »
There’s a few comments here from people with recent first hand experience of Spain. What’s the deal there with covid certification?
I am working on a new mask for the Italians it has a zip in it such that they don’t ever have to take it off, and they can therefore eat with it on, I think it will be a best seller with some in the UK too. Anyone want to fund me?
It seems to me that the cruelty inflicted on populations have been accepted because those populations have been slowly suppressed anyway. We all think we have freedom but how many cameras are there on the roads, in shopping centres etc. How many regulations do we abide by in form filling, name giving exercises for everything we do. How many taxes do we blindly pay. How many times do we stop and think about what we say, what we wear, where we walk. Indeed how many of us choose to holiday further afield than France, Italy or Spain.
Everything we do is controlled one way or another. Most of us never get the Government or the Council we vote for. Even Leavers haven’t seen the Brexit they voted for. Every single thing that was important in that vote has been ignored. Migration is at an all time high, we have not left the ECJ, the EAW, or indeed had VAT lowered because we want to rejoin the world in trade without the overseeing of Brussels. Populations have slowly walked into a Global communism. We haven’t noticed because we have still been ‘allowed’ to buy property or choose our child’s school.… Read more »
This was most certainly not the case in Menorca in late July and late August
Has Toby had the jab then?
Well, both of these countries have form when it comes to fascism………….
As does the UK now!
For anyone on here willing to be confronted by an honest comparison between Spain and the UK in its performance during this coronavirus horror show (that’s what this article is about, after all) here is the reality.
From the point of view of crazy out of proportion measures Spain has outdone the UK in only two things.
1. Masks. They continue to have them indoors. And had them outdoors when the UK never mandated outdoor masks.
2. The first lockdown. Spain went nuts and made it very difficult for people to go out for a period of 8 weeks.
In every other respect Spain has been an island of sanity where the UK has lost it’s mind.
Schools have been fully operational since September 2020 without interruption Bars, restaurants and shops have for the most part been open since the spring 2020 lockdown No restrictions on entering and leaving the country No talk of vaccine passports No sidestepping parents to vaccinate children Most importantly, the draconian measures of the first lockdown were taken to court and ultimately declared anticonstitutional and so they cannot be repeated. Britain is a bastion of freedom compared to “southern Europeans” only in the badly informed… Read more »
“Most importantly, the draconian measures of the first lockdown were taken to court and ultimately declared anticonstitutional and so they cannot be repeated.”
This for me also is arguably the most important.
I accept your points but there is a concern (to me) that continued wearing of masks is the price Spaniards and Italians are prepared to pay for what they consider to be ‘normality’. There is nothing about the ‘pandemic’ that I would accept as a condition to normal living and social conditions. That is not say the U.K is any kind of superior example, as it isn’t, as virtually everywhere seems a long way off normal and with no encouraging signs that they ever will be.
I hate masks. I have little to no respect for those that wear them. My stomach turns at the thought that they will be with us for a long time in some for or other. No argument from me on the monstrosity that are masks.
Having said that, vaccine passports worry me much more. Vaccine passports cement the principle that you have to prove your health status to participate in society. They represent the end of the most basic freedom and mark our complete enslavement to the state. I don’t think I exaggerate one iota.
As horrible as masks are, I can see them gradually disappearing. Once we have health passports, they will be almost impossible to roll back.
In that respect Spain is ahead of most countries that I am aware of, at least for now, in that the constitution prohibits any such discrimination. The constitution could be changed, but that would not be easy. Conversely, I see the imposition of digital IDs in the UK within a trojan horse NHS app as a virtual certainty.
The first England lockdown was for ten weeks.
Read what you have written. You have just made a defence case for one set of violations on humans being better than another Governments set of violations. Its rather like saying the Robber who robbed me only broke my 2 Arms and blacked my eyes, the other Robber actually killed that person. So Iwas lucky.
There is no better in this situation, the principle of denying basic fundamental freedoms, and bodily rights is not for any Government to decide upon, it is all wrong, and saying oh well, its not as bad as what they are doing means you have already accepted that you are not a free human being, and what do we call someone who is not free? Its a Slave,
I’m currently in southern Spain. Costa del Sol. No one is wearing masks on the beach. They’re warn inside in supermarkets etc. Waiters wear them but they don’t enforce diners to wear them. Some people do though
As a Brit who has been living and working in Italy for over 10 years I feel reasonably qualified to comment on the current situation here, which is nothing less than a medical dictatorship. Some Brits may feel a certain sense of security or even pride in the fact that they suddenly seem rather “free” compared to some of their European neighbours. Alas anybody who has been paying even the slightest bit of attention throughout this show will surely realise that all will be leveled out sooner or later.
I would generally agree with the writer as far as Italy is concerned, there are still large swathes of people who choose to suffer a useless mask under the 35 degree sun while out in open air. Indoors they are still required in all situations, exceptions made for the covid safe actions of drinking at a bar or eating in a restaurant, but not strangely enough for any child above 5 years of age in a classroom. Apparently schooling isn’t a safe exercise unless everybody is masked and all staff have their “green pass”. The writer is far off the mark with their comment about children not missing school, as a… Read more »
For a reason not yet clear, Italy has been the front runner in most of the draconian moves. The Spectator article seemed to capture the reason why its been used in this manner. As you rightly say, its been used, and others quickly follow when the trial has proved yet again ‘we didn’t realise we could get away with that’.
I think it’s related to the fact that it got the first scare, with the virus imported soon after Wuhan – and panicked, displaying wet pants on washing lines all over the place.
Saner analysis revealed that the initial mortality related to older people and (probably) – as in Spain, household composition.
But, as we know, the updating of intelligence just doesn’t happen when Covid stalks.
Good post! Thanks!
Excellent post thank you
Useful post, thank you.
When in Lanzarote earlier this year, masks were obligatory outside except in the country ( not defined). Now the obligation is removed. Restaurants and bars are fully open inside and out as its at the Canary Island level 1 restrictions. We are returning in the New Year so will report back, but I suspect the high Brit element on the island will ensure its returned more or less to normal with the exception of the masks in supermarkets. Given France restrictions this seems mild now.
Anyway later today we start the first leg of our ‘great escape’ to De Santis land. Just in time as it turns out, November would have seen our plans scuppered thanks to the Biden WH ‘vaccine’ push. First a quick jump to Madrid where we officially enter Spain for one night, only to reenter the airport tomorrow to fly to Panama. Antigens were negative, Spanish Health QR codes obtained, Panamanian Health QR codes obtained. Flights checked in online.
Then 14 days in Panama which will be fine, ‘masks are mandatory though, and it will be wet! Then another antigen test, and flight to Tampa. Then as soon as we leave the airport its masks in… Read more »
Before you go back you can check on this website about what paperwork is need to fly into Spain. Plus you can read what regulations are in the area you wish to visit.
https://travelsafe.spain.info/en/
At the moment it states that in the CIs
From 26th June, the face mask will not be mandatory in outdoor spaces as long as you can respect social distancing. However, the face mask will be mandatory in indoor or closed spaces, including public transport.Social distancing is 1.5m.
There is all sort of other crap about capacities and that will depend on level alert and type of establishment.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1440216658245603336
Nice
Excellent.
“President of Croatia says they are done jabbing. They are not going to do it any more.”
Maybe it’s an example of politicians having gone mad in crowds, and recovering one by one…?
How long can it be before Croatia joins Syria, Iraq, Libya, and a host of others on the list of pariah states meriting US attack?
He pretty much anticipates it with his comment: they can close us with a wire.
What a legend.
And this it with there being no evidence that masks make much difference at all.
Science is dead. This is religion.
It’s fear of social disapproval.
The desire to fit in is the main driver of all human behavior. The manipulators are fully aware of it, and that’s precisely what mandates are designed for – to reach a critical mass after which dissenting individuals start believing that they are the odd one out. That’s also why they have patriotic music played in public spaces every day in North Korea and the affirmations of love to dear leader. It looks silly and artificial, and outsiders cannot conceive how people can be so dumb to conform to such enforced rituals. But now you understand, it works.
By successfully applying peer pressure you can control people very effectively, the main difficulty is in the beginning to establish such as system – you need a catalyst – but when it’s online, it just keeps on rolling. Just like a ponzi scheme which recruits ever more participants based on its “success”.
What the Covid/Lockdown/Mask/’Vaccine’ era has shown is that there is nothing new under the psychological sun. The Covid mania is giving us a confirmation of three seminal psychology theories – B. F. Skinner on conditioning (see people still don the mask when and where they haven’t been ‘mandated’ to do so), Soloman Asch on conformity (do not stand out from the crowd) and, of course, Stanley Milgram on obedience to authority (people in white coats with Professor/Dr. in front of their name must be obeyed because of their medical ‘wisdom’). Our health overlords are working, consciously or otherwise, to this script.
Unfortunately, this chimes with a friend of mine who has just returned from Spain saying she loved the ‘rules’ and that she felt considerably safer there than in the U.K. These people are still essentially calling the shots.
Sainsbury’s just now, 80% masked zombies.
Well it was 98% a few months ago.
Other supermarkets are available where it’s down as low as 50-60%.
Unfortunately, just over the border, Wales remains a masked state.
Why don’t the Welsh just tell the government to fuck off? Or just ignore their government?
I read the article and already wondered why the author is making his children wear masks or does so himself.
I am also quite sure that children were not at school for a very long time, and even not allowed out for a long a long period of time.
Then I get to the end and the author is Toby Young. My heart sank. I am so glad he provided this platform last year, and for the swamp on reddit, but this site is loosing momentum each day.
“Then I get to the end and the author is Toby Young“
The byline on this site is usually just whoever posts the article up, not necessarily the writer.
They don’t give the author of this piece, but the text at the beginning indicates that it wasn’t written by Young. Says it’s a “guest post” by a Sceptic reader
Schools were indeed closed in Italy for a long time, and there is talking of them closing again.
This is not written from Toby’s experience. It is stated in the first line that it is a guest writer.
If it is law to wear a mask or the alternative is to get a huge fine. Then I think the way forward is to wear that mask. Or not to visit said location.
for the person who voted me down. It is a 100€ fine per person per event.
https://www.noticiastrabajo.es/fin-estado-alarma-multa-no-llevar-mascarilla/
That is on the street.
If you are in a vehicle with no cohabiting and not wearing a mask the fine increases. Plus you are limited to the number of no cohabiting persons in said vehicle unless it is public transport. Regulations on how to store masks too.
https://www.lasprovincias.es/sociedad/avisa-importante-multa-20210325085303-nt.html
Sorry folks you have to use your favourite translator for these links.
With these two examples you can see why the Spanish cower down and accpt things the way they are. Yes some are cheesed off. But being fined for a number, of some would say minor issues, added up in one stop-check does not make you want to be a hero.
Yet here on the south coast of England the beach is one place I go for a walk to avoid seeing any muzzled zombies.
It has been rare all along during this insanity to see any muzzled here at the beach, with a very occasional exception, which is why I choose to seek sanctuary here from the muzzled.
Also now people usually manage to avoid the the “Scalded Cat Sidestep” dance routine when passing you too, which is gratifying.
And they smile at you when you walk past, saying hello. I watched the Australian press release yesterday where Gladys Berejiklian stood there wearing a mask as she blatantly lied on national TV about how the vaccine cuts transmission dramatically (maybe 7% as reported here). Behind her these faceless people all wearing masks. They think they are free?
Yes I do get a few smiles and even an occasional short chat.
I must admit that I find masks creepy – always have done.
When I see what is happening in Aus. I sometimes think I must be dreaming.
They certainly aren’t free.
Mask? More like tent! Have you seen the size of her conk!!
The Pinocchio Effect!
Some real anger building up in Australia.
And rightly so, when a trade union, of all things, fails to stand firmly to protect its members against lockdowns and coerced injection with a dangerous, experimental treatment
The unions failed utterly in this country, largely captured by the panickers from the beginning, and it looks as though they failed as completely in Australia.
Hopefully these kinds of responses will force them to confront what is really going on.
https://twitter.com/InProportion2/status/1440251707020267520
Victorian construction industry shut down after tradies’ violent protest outside union
The union leadership smeared dissenters as extremists (doubtless some of them were, but extremism in defence of liberty is no vice), of course, and claimed to have been “blind-sided”:
“Mr Setka said he did not back vaccinations being mandated, despite protesters claiming the union was wrongfully supporting the government’s decision.
“We were blind-sighted by some of the Department of Health’s recommendations last week,” he said.
“How all of a sudden it’s our fault is beyond me.
“We’re virtually being blamed for everything.””
This is the one MELBOURNE PROTEST video they don’t want you to see
Great video report on the Melbourne construction workers’ protest yesterday (posted previously by AN other lockdown sceptic above).
“One thing I’ve gotta say is to the nation of Australia, as a union member, I’m so sorry that we didn’t stand up for all those shopkeepers and all those other people that’ve been trampled upon, and I feel disgusted that we were allowed to work during that time. .. But let’s stand up as a nation. This is bullshit what’s going on, and don’t be tricked by the media, by the lies and the deceit.”
99% of people will only care once it affects them. The vast majority on here are making their own lives miserable for those 99% and they could give a fuck most days.
“The unions failed utterly in this country, largely captured by the panickers from the beginning“
Actually this goes a little too far. While it’s correct I think to say that they failed utterly at the crucial time, when lockdowns were imposed, and most, like the teaching unions, were strongly on the wrong side of the issues, nevertheless I have seen some reports of them coming out against coerced vaccination.
Too little too late, but at least they are not all wholeheartedly pushing the evil.
The unions in this country have been a cowardly disgrace.
The leaders of the teaching unions have clearly been bought and have connived with the government in seeking to destroy the education system in this country along with the mental health of school children and students.
Union leaderships are stuffed full of Quislings and in many cases outright traitors.
The position of Trade Unions in this country throughout the Scam is indefensible. Quite simply they have failed their members and are guilty of dereliction of duty as a minimum.
“Union leader John Setka has been accused of assaulting his wife, Emma Walters, in an alleged incident this week which has left Ms Walters saying she has fears for her safety.”
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/john-setka-investigated-over-alleged-domestic-violence-assault-20210827-p58mdi.html
Nice guy.
“Union leader John Setka has been accused of assaulting his wife, Emma Walters, in an alleged incident this week which has left Ms Walters saying she has fears for her safety.
In a sworn statement to police, Ms Walters – a high-profile lawyer and mother of two — says that after an argument on Wednesday night, Mr Setka, the Victorian secretary of the CFMEU, became violent and repeatedly hit her head against a table leaving her with a bruised forehead.”
“John was out of control. He hit my head against the table about five times,” the statement said. “It was very painful. John is a lot bigger and stronger than me and he can totally physically control me. When he loses his temper, there isn’t anything I can do but submit to him”
“In 2019, Mr Setka was convicted of harassing Ms Walters and breaching court orders after more than 25 calls and 45 text messages in which he called her a “weak f—en piece of shit” and a “treacherous Aussie f—en c—” and a “f—en dog”.”
This would be England too, if Labour were in charge of Covid policy. A lot of people would be happy with it too. See their MPs in the House of Commons, and Sadiq Khan wanting it to be a criminal offence not to wear a mask on a bus again. Masks forever ‘To keep us all safe’.
To further add to the depression is that Toby still refers to this scam as a pandemic. This despite countless articles produced and linked to by this site proving there was no such thing.
And what’s the situation with travelling to the likes of Spain these days? Is being double-jabbed a requirement?
Well … its a case of the ‘elastic dictionary’.
It is a ‘pandemic’ – by virtue of the WHO excluding an assessment of mortality as part of the definition.
Of course – this is now a strange circumstance, whereby a ‘pandemic’ doesn’t reach official levels defined as ‘epidemic’!
No. Spain does not mandate vaccines.
Based on a the comments and reactions on here, I’m a bit disappointed at how unwilling British people are to be corrected when their facts and judgements are way off.
Qué?
Hilarious. While you rely on a fictional character created by a British comic for your mockery, Spaniards who want to look down on Brits use the very real British drunken louts in Mallorca who from time to time fall off balconies trying stupid stunts.
“The Spanish government requires all arrivals to Spain from the UK to present on entry a pre-travel declaration form and one of the following: a negative COVID-19 test* or proof of vaccination.”
*free tests from the NHS not valid – only those you have to pay for. The NHS tests are obviously fake. Ali Baba’s PCR-test-for-£99-my-friend is the only thing that will see you right.
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.collinsongroup.com?stars=1
The bundling of Spain and Italy into one as if these two countries are doing the same things nd can be judged together does the Daily Sceptic very little credit.
Absolutely true.Spain,apart from masks,is a totally different country.No coercive vaccination,no Covidpassport and open and in practice no SD. Italy seems to be utterly different with no Constitutional Court protecting them as in Spain.
Something is kicking off down under ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCIWfRmZ-Ww
Not a very accurate picture.
Spain has no vaxx passports at all, of any kind. And masks now only required indoors, not outdoors. No temperature checks anywhere, never have been.
People do voluntarily wear masks in more instances than are required. That is for sure.
No Covid passports?
Read this.
https://spanishnewstoday.com/over-21-million-covid-passports-already-issued-in-spain_1638253-a.html
https://www.eleconomista.es/actualidad/noticias/11393868/09/21/Sera-obligatorio-presentar-el-pasaporte-Covid-para-entrar-en-los-bares-y-discotecas-de-Galicia.html
The Spanish have the EU Covid/Vaccine Passport. Been in use since June.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en
It’s a certificate of vaccination. Britain has them too.
The constitution does not allow them to be used in the country in any way that limits people’s rights.
This does not mean that governments and officials have not tried. But unlike in Britain where the judiciary has just stood aside, in Spain the courts and most importantly the constitutional court which is the highest in the country, have stopped the violation of constitutionally granted rights.
This is perhaps what really distinguishes Spain from Britain and perhaps other countries. In Spain, there are a number of fundamental rights which are enshrined in a constitution that cannot be changed by a simple parliamentary majority.
I think most Brits simply don’t understand that and draw instead from obsolete, tired old narratives about plucky freedom loving Brits and downtrodden southern Europeans with longstanding illiberal tendencies.
It might be true of Italians, but it’s certainly not the case of Spain.
Absolutely agree.