FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday approved the country's participation in a 100 billion euro ($122.9 billion) package of aid for Spain's ailing bank sector, news reports said. Approval was widely anticipated as lawmakers were called back from summer vacations to vote on the measure in a special session. The measure passed with 473 in favor, 97 against and 13 abstentions, news reports said. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier urged lawmakers to approve the package, saying it would help Spain deal with "exaggerated nervousness" in financial markets and contribute to financial stability across the euro zone.