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OLIVE PRESS
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Brexit deal last chance See page 4
Extra time Vol. 4 Issue 92 www.theolivepress.es October 30th - November 12th 2020
SWITCH: Chris Stewart swapping passports EXCLUSIVE by Lydia Spencer-Elliott
FAMOUS expat author Chris Stewart is becoming Spanish. The Driving Over Lemons writer has revealed to the Olive Press he is giving up his British passport because of Brexit. “I’m becoming Spanish because I’m so incensed by the absurd nonsense of Brexit,” said the million-selling author, who lives near Granada. “I love England because I was born there, I think of the green hills of Sussex and Surrey and my heart skips a beat,” added the former Genesis drummer. “I shall be like that forever, but above all I want to be European.” Brit Stewart gained a huge following with his first book that charted his life as a ‘self sufficient’ sheep farmer in a remote part of the Alpujarras region. He has published three further books on his nearly three decade integration into Spain. Since 2016, more than 350,000 Britons have applied for non-UK passports. In Spain, dual nationality is not possible. So, residents must make the difficult choice of whether they wish to be considered Spanish or British post-Brexit. Going native Page 6
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National curfew tweaked to protect Balearics bars and restaurants LIFELINE: Balearics government has changed restrictions to try to help beleaguered hospitality industry BALEARIC residents have been given an extra hour to enjoy their evenings. But people living in Manacor won’t be allowed to leave the town. The autonomous government has adjusted a nationwide curfew imposed by Madrid to between the hours of midnight and 7am, compared to the 11pm to 6am originally decreed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez when he declared a state of alarm on Sunday. It means people will have to be home at those times unless they have a good reason
By Isha Sesay
such as travelling to or from work or caring for the sick and edlerly. The regional government decided to adjust the curfew after widespread condemnation from local business unions who said that bars and restaurants would suffer tremendously if they had to close by 11pm. This led to the Minister of Labour and Tourism, Iago Negueruela, meeting with union representatives, and hours later it was agreed that the
curfew would run from midnight Negueruela said that ‘the health situation in the Balearics is ‘one of the best compared to other autonomous communities, and for this reason, the government was willing to adjust the curfew. But the news came as authorities slapped an isolation order on Manacor. The municipality has had its borders ‘closed’ for 15 days since midnight on Wednesday after a surge in coronavirus cases. Manacor now has 458 COVID-19 cases per 100,000
Good excuse
THE President of the Balearic Government has apologised after she was caught in a bar at 2am apparently flouting COVID-19 regulations. Francina Armengol was found at Hat Bar in Palma on October 7. At the time, night venues were supposed to be shut by 1am. In response to the incident Armengol said she was only at the venue as one of her colleagues had suffered a fainting spell as they were walking past Hat Bar. She didn’t call an ambulance to not put any more pressure on the already strained emergency services.
APOLOGY: Armengol
“I am aware that the image I have shown is not appropriate and I apologise for what has happened,” said Armengol. This was in response to an allegation by the Balearic People’s Party (PP) leader Biel Company, that Armengol was drinking in the bar after hours. The Policia Local had raided the venue after several local residents complained about the establishment being open when it should not have been. When the owner was quesSee page 16 tioned by officers he said that he only kept the bar open because the President was one of his customers.
Tel: 952 147 834 TM
inhabitants and a positivity rate of 14.3% - the highest in the entire Balearic Islands. The perimeter closures will be applied to the centre of Manacor as well as the urbanisations of Son Talent, Puig de Son Talent and Jordi des Raco. Residents will only be permitted to cross the perimeter if they have a justified reason such as going to work. All restaurants and bars in these areas must close at 10pm and are prohibited from using their inside spaces. Terraces can open but only by reducing their capacity to 50% with staff at all times guaranteeing the safety distance between customers. Despite residents being allowed to move freely in the area, they have to stay at home and only carry out essential activities. Less stringent restrictions have been put in place across the rest of the islands since last weekend. Regional Health Minister Patricia Gomez said that bars will be banned from serving food or drinks at their countertops, and all orders must be taken at the table. The sale of alcohol in shops is banned after 10pm and shopping centres must reduce their capacity by half. The minister said the restrictions would be kept in place for ‘several months’. Opinion Page 6
Photo by Allan Binderup
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