Spain: Economic pain to deepen despite bank rescue
MADRID (AP) — Spain's prime minister says his country's deep economic misery will worsen this year despite the country's acceptance of a European financial lifeline of up to €100 billion ($125 billion) to rescue its hurting banks.
Mariano Rajoy says Spain will stay stuck in its second recession in three years, and unemployment will rise above the current level of nearly 25 percent — the highest among the 17 nations that use the common euro currency.
Rajoy told reporters Sunday that his decision to ask for outside help a day earlier was difficult but will save the country from total economic devastation while strengthening the shaky status of the European Union.
He refused to call the rescue package a bailout, saying it is different from those received by Greece, Italy and Portugal.
