Can Spain sustain?

Economic reform is clear but what about society? Can Spain sustain their siestas, their late-night shows (children sleep at schools in the mornings), the first coffee breaks before delivering any contribution, the no-service culture and the (too) many holidays?

While it is the moment every person should support a turnaround changing and challenging the national behavior of a Spaniard seems to be a taboo. Even when Spain can become Greece?

When looking at the Spanish society it is clear an economic reform, cleaning up the low valued educational systems, breaking up the housing market or other necessities there is never a rush (mañana, mañana).

The just held local elections with a victory for the conservatives will not bring faster recovery or long last benefits from short term unpopular exercises. The opposition has nothing to offer in Spain.

If Spain would like to avoid another tragedy or become more resistant for future failures it cannot only change bank rules or asking again Northern Europe for financial support like the past 30 years. That will not kick back +20% unemployment!

Every person should wonder what he or she can contribute and if continuing like this could he or she really deliver a better future for their children instead of copying the behavior of the parents. Like the Spanish culture is untouchable.

Instead of again accepting local corruption and endless wars with the government (or changing places) Spain runs short of self-criticism. Perhaps current protests of youngsters are a start but who really cares?

As long as these protests look not to be supported by all or can be compared to student protests in other countries it is another incident. Is 50% of these youngsters and students satisfied and the other 50% unemployed and protesting?

It looks like Spain remains split up in their regional (national) quarrels where Madrid looks still too often down to the rest unnecessarily feeding the anger of the local parties that cannot let go of the past, like here in Catalonia. Like Greece there is only a national interest of "we" against "the rest". Excellent choice!

A national feeling can be less disturbing as long as the public remains open for fast changes but who would really support an increase of labor productivity or even saying good-bye to the “el Jefe” status? Lesser civil workers? Better infrastructure?

Take for example Barcelona; since 1992 (Olympic Games) no main changes of entering the city. The so called "rondas" cannot digest current traffic and connection from an ultramodern airport (just to show-off to Madrid) has no efficient public transport for tourists.

Just imagine; you arrive after a long flight and decide to take a train which stops in the center of Barcelona. First you have to take a shuttle, then crossing an old and useless corridor and find yourself with hundreds waiting for 2 trains per hour.

Now if the Spanish tourist sector really would have justified complaints like above a quick lobby would open doors but instead nothing changes. The tourist industry of Spain has remained unchanged just like its society. Everyone expects someone else will do the job tomorrow.

The younger generations can only find jobs in this primary GDP market but these jobs are temporal and do not offer trust or potential while many studied but cannot find a fit in the closed labor markets.

When Spain cannot unite and is not willing to take care of the younger generations nothing will change. Youngsters remain out of jobs, live with their parents as housing is too expensive and they cannot escape their vicious circles, just like their parents.

Hopefully Spain is not becoming Greece but instead of national egoism political and business leaders of Spain should worry more about the future instead of worrying about votes or who is next in power. And voters should no longer accept these tricks or only look what happens in the "pueblo" before it is too late!

Spain has lots to offer and can become again competitive with better options for the younger generations. To do that the older generations have to admit their failures by executing more unplesant but welcome reforming. Not in 2015 or in 2020 but now!