Akhir 28, 1432 H/April 2, 2011, SPA -- Spain's embattled prime minister announced Saturday he will not seek re-election in 2012 as his country's economy badly hit by the international financial crisis, according to AP. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a meeting of party leaders he would limit his time in office to two terms, opening a process of primaries to elect his successor, though analysts say Spain's center-left Socialist party is almost certain to lose next year unless the troubled economy improves substantially. He made the announcement after a series of polls over the last year showed the center-right Popular Party far in the lead after Zapatero and his administration enacted a host of austerity measures aimed at preventing Spain from being forced to accept a bailout. Zapatero insisted in his speech that the measures, including tax hikes and law changes making it easier to fire workers, have stabilized Spain's shaky economy, then announced that he «will not be a candidate in the forthcoming general elections.» He also said his decision is best for the country, his party and his family.
