Protests against the German chancellor’s visit to Santiago de Compostela reportedly forced her and the Spanish prime minister to postpone a news conference.<br /><br />“Merkel and Rajoy out of Galicia” they chanted.<br /><br />Many in Spain deeply resent government austerity measures they believe were imposed by a German-dominated EU.<br /><br />Angela Merkel’s two-day visit coincides with the first signs of economic recovery in Spain, despite high unemployment and ongoing hardship.<br /><br />Mariano Rajoy said reforms were beginning to bear fruit. Merkel said the foundations were now laid for Spain’s economy to improve.<br /><br />The German leader has backed the Spanish economy minister in his bid to head the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers.<br /><br />Luis de Guindos, said Merkel, had been an excellent minister in difficult times.<br /><br />The next Eurogroup president – who will replace the Dutchman Jeroen Dijsselbloem – may be chosen at next weekend’s Brussels summit, when many the EU’s top jobs are likely to be decided. <br /><br />On Sunday Merkel and Rajoy walked six kilometres of the pilgrimage road to Compostela, the Spanish premier’s birthplace, in a symbolic show of unity.
