Four questions that will shape Spain’s summer in 2016

Spain heads into summer with plenty of hope and optimism, but some questions remain…

The onset of June brings the onset of summer proper for much of Europe, and Spain is no different. Despite warmer temperatures arriving much earlier in Spain than most other places in Europe, it is not until June that the various resorts across the country begin to really fill out.

And now that June is upon us, summer can begin in earnest, with this year’s installment set to be perhaps one of the most memorable yet. Here are four reasons why…

1. The busiest ever?

Expect busy beaches in Spain this summer.

Most people’s idea of the perfect beach goes something like this: virginal white sands, palm trees skimming the edge of the shore, a gentle azure surf lapping at one’s toes, a waiter on hand bringing a steady supply of cool drinks, and not another soul in sight.

Spain, for all its strengths, offers very little of this. In fact, most Spanish beaches are about as far removed from that description in the summer as it is possible to be. And yet. And yet. Spain is set for a bumper year, with more tourists expected this summer than any before, which means that the majority of beaches in the popular Costa del Sol resorts will be jam-packed. People seem to prefer this, though, on balance, to the alternative. There will, for instance, be plenty of space on the beaches of Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia this summer, but the threat of terrorism is proving quite the deterrent.

Chuck in Spain’s relative affordability, its unrivalled choice and its enviable accessibility, and it is easy to see why millions will flock once more to Spain’s golden shores this summer.

2. A new government?

King Felipe had to call the second election, to be held on June 26.

When Spaniards went to the polls last December, few would have foreseen what was to come. That the vote was going to be close was a given. That the impasse would rumble on for six months was not. Spain still has no government. The stand-in prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, is a continuation of the status quo that the majority of Spaniards voted to end.

But, crucially, they did not vote in enough numbers to secure an alternative government. Each party has its own merits, and there is a good case for certain coalitions to be created, but thus far none have been satisfactorily identified. And with the next general election slated for June 26, there still appears to be little breakthrough – could the deadlock remain after a second vote? Stranger things have happened. What is true, however, is that even on autopilot, Spain’s economy has continued its impressive run.

3. Bye-bye Brits?

British expats have been a staple of Spanish life for decades, mostly thanks to the EU.

Just a few days before Spaniards go to the polls, the UK will vote on perhaps its most important democratic decision in a generation. The EU referendum has dominated the British media for some time now, and its potential implications on the millions of Brits who live elsewhere in the EU are vast.

There are scaremongers on both sides of the debate, but for Brits in Spain there is only one certainty: a vote to remain means things carry on as normal – access to free healthcare, rising pensions, and the right to live and work freely in Spain. But an ‘Out’ vote could bring a whole host of headaches and problems, the worst case scenario being a breakdown in relations between the UK and Spain that makes living in Spain almost untenable for Brits. Unlikely, yes, but perhaps not something worth risking, given the chance.

4. European champions?

Spain’s Cesc Fabregas has been an ever-present during the team’s golden period, but can he manage another success this summer?

Another great unknown ahead of Spain this summer is the fate of its fabled football team. Rewind four years and the country was in the cusp of an unprecedented third footballing triumph in a row, with the Spanish national team having won the 2008 Euros, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euros.

However, two years ago things took a surprising turn for the worse, with Spain crashing out in the group stages at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil following a chastening 5-1 shellacking at the hands of Holland in their opening game. With the Dutch mercifully missing from this tournament (and their other conquerors from 2014, Chile, excluded on, well, geographical grounds), can Spain rediscover the groove that made them the most feared team on the planet back in 2012? Or will hosts France, World Champions Germany, or *ahem* dark horses England ruin Spain’s defence of its crown?