* Spain, Portugal problems unlike those in Greece-Bruederle
* Call for new rules for EU members to get structural help
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 29 (Reuters) - The fiscal problems of Spain and Portugal are different from those of Greece, German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said on Thursday.
Rating agency Standard and Poor's slashed Greek debt to junk status and downgraded debt from Portugal and Spain this week, raising fears that contagion from Greece's fiscal crisis would spread. [ID:nLDE63P0LU] and [ID:nLDE63R115]
"I look at the situations of Portugal and Spain in a different way," Bruederle told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.
"On my way back to Germany I'll stop in Lisbon and keep talking to Portuguese representatives to learn about the situation in Portugal," he added.
Bruederle said the main goal of help from the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission to Greece is to contain the problems to that country and avoid a spillover to other euro zone nations.
"We want to limit the crisis to Greece," Bruederle said.
The European Commission was unable to foresee or prevent the Greek fiscal crisis, which has roiled markets for months, because much previous Greek economic data had been incorrect, Bruederle said.
"They (Greece) spent outside their means and need to choose another path," he said.
The German government is pushing for Athens to swallow a tough budget austerity plan in order to receive aid -- a drive it hopes will assuage popular resistance in Germany to helping Greece and also deter other euro zone states from seeking help.
The euro zone needs new rules to ensure stability, Bruederle said.
"We'll have to add other rules and consider the possibility that members that don't follow the rules will not receive structural help from the European Commission and will have their voting rights suspended until they return to following the rules," he said. (Writing by Luciana Lopez; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)