Politician says new Spanish anthem lyrics "stink"

By Jason Webb

MADRID (Reuters) - New lyrics proposed for Spain's national anthem "stink", according to a prominent politician, and the country's athletes may have to keep singing "la la la" for a while longer in the winner's circle.

Spain's national anthem, the "Royal March", has been played without words since 1978, when previous lyrics approved by right-wing dictator Francisco Franco were ditched.

Ever since, Spanish athletes have admitted to jealousy of foreign opponents with words to sing at sporting events. Some have even resorted to chanting "la la la".

But new lyrics unveiled on Friday, which were selected in a competition organised by the Spanish Olympic Committee, were derided by members of parliament, who will have the final say on whether they become official.

"They stink," said Gaspar Llamazares, leader of the small left-wing United Left party, who said they reminded him of the Franco era, when Spanish national symbols such as the flag became associated with the political right.

The proposed anthem, which if approved would be played at state as well as sporting events, avoids references to controversial areas such as religion and intones mildly about Spain, "from its green valleys to the immense sea".

But its first words, "Long Live Spain!", have an authoritarian ring for many on the left and are unlikely to appeal to separatists in the Basque Country and Catalonia.

The spokesman in the Spanish parliament for Catalan separatist party Esquerra, Joan Tarda, said he did not want to comment on the proposal, but that it was reasonable for the Spanish nation to have an anthem with words.