Rajoy government has no alternative

The anger of the Spanish population at the austerity measures passed by the Spanish Congress on Thursday is understandable, but the government must not bow under the pressure, writes the conservative daily El Mundo: "It's logical that the citizens, including those who voted for the [ruling] People's Party, are annoyed about the increase in VAT, cuts in unemployment benefits and lower salaries for public servants. But as understandable and justified as the protests may be, it is just as logical and true that the government has no leeway to cede because the state of the public coffers and dependence on foreign assistance don't permit it. … The government is trapped between the pressure of the markets and the pressure from the streets because on the very day the citizens expressed their discontent across Spain the yield premium on Spanish bonds rose to its highest ever level."

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