Image, some would say superficiality, matters very much to modern Spaniards, and Mr. Rajoy and his ministers are currently very content with some headline economic figures that give the impression, for now and right before the European elections, that his government has at the very least succeeded in steadying the ship of state, but the stormy seas of six years of economic crisis have done much damage below the waterline, and something of a historical typhoon is heading towards the nation.

Tossed and turned by the 21st Century, the economic and political forces acting on Project Spain are still centrifugal, that is they act outwards, away from the centre, whereas until not so very long ago they were centripetal, attracting people to Spain, towards the centre.

Germany has said this week it is worried about brain drain from Spain…