Merkel told Rajoy to hold off on requesting further bailout
German chancellor was concerned that Berlin lawmakers would not approve petition
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told union leaders earlier this month that Germany had dissuaded Spain from asking the European Union for a full bailout because Chancellor Angela Merkel believed that it would be difficult to reach a consensus for approval.
Rajoy met with Cándido Méndez and Ignacio Toxo, leaders of the UGT and CCOO respectively, on December 3 to discuss his public-spending plans.
They were told that Merkel convinced Rajoy not to seek further aid from the EU because she feared that the request would not get favorable passage in the German parliament. At the same time, she was also concerned that the bailout plan would not get the unanimous approval needed from the rest of the 26 member states.
A full account of the meeting will be published in EL PAÍS ENGLISH EDITION on Tuesday.
