It seems like an eternity that the executive has been left to get on with its work relatively unhindered by government but as the politicians are returning from their extended breaks by the beaches the opening shots have been fired by the opposition.

The criticism today of the government by Arias Canete could be the guiding light for the gloves off change of approach from the PP Partido Popular of Mariano Rajoy. The opposition party over the past six months have acted in a restrained diplomatic fashion presumably hoping to influence such things as the new Catalan state's Legislation with the subtlety of cooperation. Unfortunately, during the latter half of the negociations the situation in the basque country, in which the PP strongly object to negociating with the terrorists have left the opposotion party in a position where they must now fight.

Perhaps this opening suggestion that the PSOE rulers of Jose Zapatero is not the declaration of war that it first appears to be. However there as yet has been no concrete evidence that the two main Spanish parties will be as willing to attempt to work together as last year, this.

The problems with the drought that has ripped through Spain are ongoing and must be delt with immediatly if the economic growth of the country is to be sustained. However the price and availability of fuel is a more global one.

Over the next coming weeks until the Parliamentarians have their summer-luncheoned backsides comfortably re-positioned on their 'work' chairs we will no doubt hear more criticisms until the two parties start arguing about what really matters to them, which I suspect is the changing state of Spain as a nation and just how far they will allow the Basque country to become an autonomous state run by dictators...