As the pressure continues to build on Europe’s top political and economic minds to resolve Spain’s banking crisis and lift the nation out of the euro zone’s relegation zone, the nation itself has spoken. But we are not talking about a meticulously orchestrated Q + A session with some high profile FinMin, paparazzi at the ready. No, the Spanish have taken to Twitter.     

While lawmakers and economy coneheads continue to scratch their bonces over the right course of action, the nation’s Twitter users have exercised their right to free speech – and Merkel-abuse. The top trending topic in the nation last night was “#StopMerkel”, with the social networking channel providing the perfect opportunity to vent anger over the domineering influence of Frau Merkel.

“#StopMerkel because her actions have already condemned Greece and Portugal”, raged one angry user. While another pleaded “We have our dignity as a people, don’t take that away from us”. Another said, “I believe the #euro is the currency of #Germany, not #Europe. Europeans (except Germans) are suffering because of the euro #StopMerkel”.

Some of the tweets expressed a personal distaste for the German minister (referring to little more than her appearance), but others underline the genuine resentment building amongst citizens. Whilst minds sitting in top level boardrooms across the euro zone have the ability to dictate life-changing policy decisions, the strength of public backlash to austerity decisions has already been seen in all its glory in Greece. With the second round of Greek elections pending and the people’s decision likely to dictate the course of the future for the nation and its euro zone membership, European minds would do well to take to Twitter every now and again.

In the interest of balance, we should point out that not all of the tweets were critical of Merkel's position. Indeed, some in the Twittersphere defended the German leader. "If you #StopMerkel, who is going to keep writing checks to Club Med? It ain't Belgium, that's for sure," tweeted Tero Kuittinen.

Eyes off the ball

Meanwhile, other Twitterers have been accusing top politicians – including President Mario Rajoy – of taking their eyes off the fiscal ball in order to focus on another spherical object about to dominate the euro scene. Faisal Islam (pictured), economis editor for Channel 4, recently tweeted from Spain: “Spanish hacks here joking Rajoy hopes that Spain will be too distracted by the football, which starts on Sunday... to notice EU bailout…”

Also featuring in Spain’s top 10 Twitter trends late last night was #Fitch. The hashtag was sent soaring after the ratings agency downgraded the nation to BBB and set it on a negative outlook, with a further downgrade possible. If the banking crisis with Bnakia et al is going to be solved and the nation’s rating is to be saved further slashing, perhaps politicians could do worse than watching a game of footie over the weekend.

According to Simon Kuper of the Financial Times, despite acute economic turmoil, “in football Europe still rules.

In other spheres Europeans are becoming weak and irrelevant. They struggle to afford foreign wars”, but, he argues, “footballers are model Europeans. Many play for clubs outside their home country, because football is almost the only sector in Europe to have achieved the labour mobility that the euro zone requires”.

Spanish bond yields surged 17 basis points Friday morning, causing them to hit 6.2 percent and remain above the 6 percent danger level. The jump caused 10-year-yields to drop by the most in more than two weeks.

Sarah Cox, Staff Writer