William Chislett's profile photo

William Chislett

Madrid

Madrid since 86. Emeritus Elcano think tank, FT Mexico (78-84),The Times Spain (75-78), author Microhistoria de España + 19 other books. Spanish by Royal Decree

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Articles

  • The impact of the NGEU funds begins to be felt

    3 weeks ago | realinstitutoelcano.org | William Chislett

    Spain is approaching the final year for executing the remaining €36.5 billion of the almost €80 billion of non-repayable grants from the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) programme, which began in 2021 to help countries recover from the economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and build a greener, more digital and more resilient future.

  • The main challenges facing Spain

    1 month ago | chronicle.gi | William Chislett

    In this abridged extract from the latest edition of his book ‘Spain: What Everyone Needs to Know’, journalist and author William Chislett, a former a correspondent of The Times of London in Madrid and the Financial Times in Mexico, and a regular face at the Gibraltar Literary Festival, analyses the main challenges currently facing Spain.... Continue Reading Register free to get 10 premium articles/month.

  • Spain under pressure to spend more on defence

    2 months ago | realinstitutoelcano.org | William Chislett

    Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez successfully persuaded the EU to rebrand its multi-billion euro initiative, originally called ‘Rearm Europe,’ designed to boost the bloc’s military power amid concerns that the US might withdraw its security guarantees. However, he is facing opposition domestically, where political support remains limited for raising Spain’s comparatively low defence expenditure.

  • Some brighter spots in education

    Mar 10, 2025 | realinstitutoelcano.org | William Chislett

    Spain’s early school-leaving rate has more than halved over the past 20 years, from a shocking 32.2% in 2004 to 13% in 2024, but is still well above the EU-27 average and that of neighbouring (and poorer) Portugal, whose rate dropped from an even higher 39.3% to 8.1% (see Figure 1). Figure 1.

  • The middle class recovers

    Feb 11, 2025 | realinstitutoelcano.org | William Chislett

    More than 50 years ago, towards the end of the Franco regime, General Vernon Walters, Deputy Director of the CIA, visited the dictator to find out what might happen after he died. Franco told Walters not to worry as he had ‘left something that I didn’t find on taking over the government of the country 40 years ago’. Walters thought Franco was referring to the armed forces. But Franco said: ‘The Spanish middle class.

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William Chislett
William Chislett @WilliamChislet3
29 May 25

RT @WilliamChislet3: El enlace para poder asistir a la presentación por Julio Llamazares de mi libro el 11 de junio a las 19 horas en el Ce…

William Chislett
William Chislett @WilliamChislet3
29 May 25

RT @WilliamChislet3: My post for OUP blog on 50 years after Franco, tagged to the second edition of my mini history of Spain now published…

William Chislett
William Chislett @WilliamChislet3
27 May 25

Thanks to abundant rain in Spain olive oil price way down on a year ago when reached €14. My local supermarket in Madrid. ⁦@BrendyBoyle⁩ https://t.co/zubp9IX2aQ