Friday, May 11, 2012

Marinaleda

Marinaleda, a little village located in Andalucía, isn't a common place. Since democratic transition only one mayor has ruled the village: Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo from Izquierda Unida (Left Union). Sánchez Gordillo has governed all legislatures by absolute majority
After Franco's dead, Marinaleda people started to manifest against a landowner who owned the majority lands but he didn't want cultivate them. After a years of fight, Marinaleda people get eject the landowner.
Policies Marinaleda carries out are opposite from EU and USA policies. City council have all village land. They yield plots to people which want build a house. People must pay €15 monthly (more or less). To change, people have to help to build the house.
Furthermore, every body can check the municipal budget: town council have a list, which everyone can see, with all municipal expenses. Besides town hall organizes an assembly per week. All people from Marinaleda can go there and express to mayor their thoughts or problems.
Marinaleda is a "famous" village for his particularity and stars a lot of news, reports... even songs! Here is an interview to Sánchez Gordillo

1 comment:

  1. This kind of system can works on little places, but no all the world. It's a good system to live.

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