Zapatero cancels trip to Latin American summit

 

Mounting problems at home have forced the Prime Minister to withdraw from this coming weekend's Ibero-American summit, the government announced today, as Spain reported that they will sell off more state assets and axe a jobless benefit, increasing efforts to cut costs and persuade markets it will not require a bailout.

The government said that the country would be represented by King Juan Carlos and Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez at the 20th Ibero-American summit in Argentina over the weekend.

Zapatero said he was ending a payment of 426 euros a month to the long-term unemployed, and plans to let private companies take 49 percent stakes in airports and airport services.