Zapatero: recovery "so frail" there is no way back on reforms

Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero cautioned on Thursday that because Spain's economic recovery was "so frail" his Socialist government cannot afford at this point to do an about-face on its belt-tightening measures.

Speaking before Congress, Zapatero pledged to submit legislation in the coming weeks that would address pension reform and changes to energy laws. The prime minister said that he will press regional governments to improve their transparency regarding their budgets as well as rein in spending.

"Recovery is so frail that we cannot change course," he said.

Zapatero predicted that growth, at a standstill for the third quarter, will increase over the next few months as it did during the first and second quarters of this year.

The Cabinet will approve a series of measures for Congress to tackle over the next 15 months, he said.

Of all of his regular appearances before lawmakers, Zapatero found himself yesterday in an unusually strong position to press for pension reform. The Socialists now have a comfortable majority after winning the support of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and the Canaries Coalition (CC).

"Kiss him, kiss him," lawmakers taunted in unison from the benches of the main opposition Popular Party after Zapatero thanked PNV parliamentary leader Josu Erkoreka for his support. "I am very much in agreement with your position. I am very thankful for the PNV's stance, and this hasn't been easy. I will always remember your sense of responsibility and coherence," Zapatero said to the Basque politician.