(MADRID) - Spain's political parties must take care not to make election promises that will eliminate the country's record budget surplus, European Union Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Tuesday.

"I ask the parties to show moderation," Almunia, who is Spanish, told radio Onda Cero when asked about the ruling Socialist party's promise to give a tax rebate of 400 euros (590 US dollars) to 13 million people if it is re-elected in the March 9 election.

Spain's budget surplus will be above 2.0 percent of gross domestic product in 2007 and Almunia, himself a Socialist, said parties must take care "not to destroy one of the biggest surpluses in the euro zone."

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced the plan for the tax rebate on Sunday, saying it was aimed at stimulating the economy, which has showed signs of cooling as a credit-fueled expansion comes to an end.

"We saved, we managed finances well, and we have a surplus that is higher than what was expected," he said during an interview Tuesday with public television TVE where he defended the election promise.

In the run-up to the election Zapatero introduced a 2,500-euro tax rebate for every child born after June 2007 and rent subsidy program for young Spaniards between the ages of 22 and 30.

The conservative opposition Popular Party has criticised the government's tax rebate pledge even as it was promised tax cuts of its own.

Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy has promised to eliminate income taxes altogether for the seven million taxpayers who earn 16,000 euros per year or less and by 1,000 euros for up to three million working women.

The Socialists have widened their lead over the Popular Party, according to two opinion polls published Monday.

Zapatero's party has the support of between 44 and 44.5 percent of eligible voters compared to between 38 to 38.7 percent who back the Popular Party, the polls carried out for daily newspaper Publico and Cadena Ser radio found.

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