National unity pact to combat crisis

"Zapatero proposes a pact but Rajoy doesn't believe him." El Mundo reports on the Spanish government leader's announcement that he is ready to negotiate terms for a unity pact with opposition leader Mariano Rajoy and representatives of other parties in a bid to boost efforts to combat the economic crisis. In an editorial which describes Zapatero's speech as "an exercise in Panglossian optimism," El Mundocriticises the Prime Minister's "dogmatic insistence on certain magic recipes, and his refusal to envisage cuts in welfare spending." However, the conservative daily also notes that José Luis Zapatero has made a "extremely precise" proposal, which constitutes "the only viable option" for Spain. If the government leader sticks to his guns, Mariano Rajoy will be "forced to adopt the plan," which aims to prevent the country "from sliding into economic quicksand." The daily notes that 80% of Spanish voters are in favour of an agreement of this kind.