Spanish PM to give news conference after bank rescue

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will give a news conference at midday (1000 GMT) after the government secured a massive rescue for its stricken banks, his office said.

Rajoy’s office informed journalists of the conference.

The premier has been criticised by some media for not appearing the previous day when Madrid agreed to seek aid of up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) from its EU partners.

El Pais’ editorial on Sunday said Rajoy had been at fault for not addressing the country.

“Rajoy yesterday lost a great opportunity to explain everything to the citizens on an historic, although painful, day for the Spanish people,” the newspaper said.

Even conservative papers such as El Mundo attacked the right-leaning government’s communications policy.

“If the news is bad in itself, the government’s poor communication helped to make it look a bit worse,” El Mundo said.

“Just over a week ago, Rajoy said emphatically that Spain does not need this aid. And just hours before announcing it, the government carried on denying,” the newspaper said.