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M. Continuo

Merkel sees German parliament backing Spanish bailout


    BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday she was confident that a majority of German lawmakers would back aid for Spain's ailing banking sector at a special sitting of the lower house Bundestag set for Thursday.

    Spain is due to receive a rescue package from the euro zone of up to 100 billion euros for its banks, devastated by a burst housing bubble. Germany, the euro zone's largest member state, must first win a green light from the Bundestag before it can pay out its share of the loans.

    "We always get the majority we need," Merkel said in a pre-recorded interview for ZDF television channel due to be aired on Sunday evening.

    Merkel added that the question of liability for future direct aid to banks had not yet been decided within the euro zone.

    On Greece, Merkel said she wanted to wait for the report on Athens' reform progress from the 'troika' of officials from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund before deciding on further steps.

    (Reporting by Michelle Martin and Andreas Rinke, writing by Gareth Jones)