They Said This In 2014

"A few small incidents." Mariano Rajoy downplaying the level of corruption during a speech in Murcia. The next day there were raids in Murcia and elsewhere as part of Operación Punica, another corruption investigation mostly involving figures from the Partido Popular. "I apologise to all Spaniards in the name of the PP." Mariano Rajoy, the day after the raids. "Spain is not corrupted." Mariano Rajoy, a month later and the day after health minister Ana Mato had resigned, having allegedly profited from crimes supposedly committed by her former husband.

"I will always keep Spain deepest in my heart." King Juan Carlos making his abdication announcement on television on 2 June.

"We said that the results of 25 May would open a cycle of historical political change in our country. We did not imagine that it would start so quickly." Podemos on the abdication.

"Brave son of a bitch, go to Colombia and (graphic description and expletives deleted) friend of yours ...and get shot in the neck and leave us in peace." Jonathan Cabeza, PP councillor for culture in Paredes de Nava, addressing Pablo Iglesias of Podemos via social media. Cabeza resigned.

"A judge can lose impartiality, just as a prosecutor can lose impartiality. This is an inherent human risk. But I do not believe that a judge is more vulnerable than a prosecutor to losing impartiality." Judge José Castro, responding to what he felt was disrespect being shown to him by prosecutor Pedro Horrach with regard to what was then only the possibility of Princess Cristina being placed on trial.

"Horrifying footage." "The Mirror" grossly exaggerating the nature of the mamading video in Magalluf while at the same time joining with other British red-tops in seeking out further horrifying footage.

"We demand that the greed and unscrupulousness of a few businesses, if you can call them that, do not ruin Mallorca's reputation." Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, speaking in light of the Magalluf video.

"Magalluf is five hundred metres of shame." President Bauzá referring to Punta Ballena. Mayor Manu Onieva was said to have been livid with this observation.

"The number four represents the square ... the four elements and the realisation of ideas." Manu Onieva in explaining the reasons why he would not be standing again as mayor of Calvia. And no, no one had a clue what he was talking about.

"They hate each other." A PP politician who preferred to remain anonymous, talking about the relationship between Bauzá and Palma's mayor Mateo Isern in April. He was of course right, and the relationship was so sour that Isern lost Bauzá's backing to stand again as mayor.

"Remember the Nazis when they put the Star of David on Jewish shops." PP Balearic parliamentary spokesperson, Mabel Cabrer, reacting to criticisms of the PP's discount card. Her insinuation of Nazi tactics by the opposition led her to have to apologise.

"Totally ignorant." Rafael Perera, president of the Consell Consultiu, the body which can arbitrate on matters of regional government policy. This was a description of President Bauzá and it was contained in a letter Perera sent to Bauzá, the background to which was the implementation of trilingual teaching (TIL).

"Either the ministry doesn't know what it's talking about or it is taking us for fools." The Mallorcan parents' association, taking umbrage at a letter sent from the education ministry to parents waxing lyrical about the virtues of TIL.

"You are doing a great job, despite the difficulties, because we have principles and convictions, and for this I appreciate your effort." President Bauzá to the then education minister Joana Camps. A few days later he sacked her.

"With humility." This was how the PP would work in attracting voters who had deserted the party at the European elections. They were the words of President Bauzá. Three years before, and prior to the regional elections, he had said "we have to be humble". Somewhere along the line this humility had been lost.

"The disappearance of the Council would amount to a mutilation of democracy in the Balearics." The president of the Council of Mallorca, Maria Salom, responding to Bauzá's suggestion that the Council's role should be reduced to a minimum.

"Put your hands up like the ceiling can't hold us." The video to promote Aina Calvo's leadership of PSOE in the Balearics. It was a line from the dance tune by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. What did it mean? No one knew. Aina lost out to Francina Armengol.

"Where is the response of the European family? Where is the pan-European campaign for people to take their holidays in Spain, to buy Spanish products and listen to Spanish music?" Bono at the European People's Party conference in Dublin, calling for greater European support for the Spanish economy. What had the Spanish economy to do with Bono? It was impossible to say, and his words were swiftly forgotten.