EWN
GETS IT
.com
Lots go up in smoke ALMOST 1.5 million packets of contraband cigarettes were seized at Valencia’s ports this year, twice as many as in 2012.
5,000 births ELCHE'S Vinalopó Hospital has delivered its 5,000th baby since the facility opened in June 2010. David Aguiler Ortega was born weighing 3.6 kilos.
Drugs deal TWO people have been arrested in Alicante for selling to minors an ‘anti-crisis package’ of a cigar, cigarette paper and a dose of marijuana to allow them to make joints on the cheap.
Christmas Special
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Festive Pullout Pages 49-56
The costly races €300m spend on Valencian Grand Prix
A LEAKED document has revealed the true cost of the Valencia Grand Prix. The Generalitat (regional government) spent more than €300 million of taxpayers’ money after signing the 2008 agreement with Formula One (F1) supremo Bernie Ecclestone, revealed regional MP Ignacio Blanco. The contract was cancelled after last year’s race owing to the Generalitat’s precarious finances, but the F1 companies still earned more than €115 million net. To this must be added €90 million for building the Valencia City circuit and the €75 million cost of
/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
EWN FRONT EXTRA
12 - 18 DECEMBER 2013
EFECREATA PHOTOGRAPHY
ISSUE NO. 1484
assembling and dismantling it each time the race was held. The contract stipulated secrecy and the government spokesman and vice-president Jose Ciscar reminded Blanco that he had signed a confidentiality agreement before he was allowed to see the document.
Blanco claimed that there had been no confidentiality agreement
although he signed a dataprotection agreement and names were accordingly removed from the leaked document. In any case, ethical principles have to take precedence where public money is concerned, the MP claimed. If Ecclestone were to demand accountability, the Generalitat would do the same with Blanco’s party, Esquerra Unida, the vicepresident warned.