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German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German) has warned of growing Spanish nationalism in an article which also considers the EAJ's (Basque Nationalist Party) position over prime minister Rajoy's proposed budget.

"EAJ strategists in Bilbao aren't hiding that they basically have no interest at all in Rajoy's cabinet falling. He might have achieved, at least in terms of economic policy, to stablise Spain. He has also moved the PP a considerable distance from the right to the middle. Should Rajoy stumble over the 2018 budget, it would be expected in the case of new elections that he would be replaced by a representative of the nationalist wing of the PP," they write.

According to SZ, Spain is seeing a relaunch of Spanish nationalism: "In fact, according to the polls, a nationalist wave is going through Spain due to the Catalan crisis. Nor is it denied in Bilbao that the current situation is definitely not disagreeable for the Basques: they can ask for concessions from Rajoy's minority government, which a strong coalition in Madrid would never grant."

The newspaper also notes that the Basque Country has significantly greater devolved powers on taxation than Catalonia, a topic Rajoy refuses to negotiate on.