Spain is almost certain to follow suit. The PP's Rajoy will do out of conviction what Zapatero did allegedly out of a sense of statesmanship.

ElPais.com in English: Rajoy hints at drastic cuts if he wins elections (03/06/2011)

"We will have a welfare state we can afford," says PP chief

...

Prior to addressing the Círculo de Economía forum, US economist Joseph Stigliz, who won the Nobel Prize in 2001, argued that excessive cuts in public spending could lead to economic stagnation similar to that seen in Greece. But Rajoy was firm in his convictions.

"We will have a welfare state that we can afford," he said. "An African nation may want to have a large welfare state but cannot. If we reactivate the economy and create jobs, then more taxes will be paid and we will have a welfare state. And we will have one to fit our means. As I said before, I would like to maintain public health and pensions ? that is the red line. But I think that coming up with a global package mixed with an austerity plan will be good."

Economics is politics by other means