May

President Aragonés

Catalonia finally has a new president, Israel and Hamas agree a ceasefire after escalating violence, restaurants reopen at night and Espanyol are promoted to La Liga

1. Following weeks of political wrangling, the impasse was overcome and an agreement reached between the pro-independence parties to allow Pere Aragonés to become the 132nd President of Catalonia and form a coalition government. His first cabinet would have the highest ever proportion of women members.

2. Eleven days after the outbreak of violence , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave in to pressure to cease the military offensive on Gaza, which had claimed the lives of 232 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. The truce between Israel and Hamas was negotiated with the help of mediation from Egypt.

3. Signs of a return to normality in the restaurant sector as establishments were allowed to reopen at night for the first time since lockdown began. Business owners, waiting staff and customers all rejoiced as restaurants opened their doors and terraces. Nightclubs would remain closed until June, however.

May 4. Espanyol were promoted back to La Liga at the first time of asking, after a 0-0 draw at Zaragoza was enough to seal automatic promotion to the top division. As for Barcelona, while the men’s team fell away in the league, the Barça women’s team managed to achieve a historic league, cup and CL treble.

Bookshops fight back against pandemic

Bookshops fight back against pandemic.

The focus of May’s magazine was the brave struggle being fought by Catalonia’s bookshops to make headway during the pandemic. There were also pieces on the challenges facing President Biden, allergies and football’s Superleague shambles.