Germany’s Finance Minister Calls on Lawmakers to Back Greek Bailout Extension
Wolfgang Schäuble spoke to German lawmakers ahead of a parliamentary vote
Germany’s finance minister called on lawmakers to back a four-month extension of Greece’s bailout, arguing that voting against the bill would cause Germany’s future “great damage.”
“Greece needs much longer than other program countries to win back trust from financial markets,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble told parliament in a debate ahead of the parliamentary vote, adding however, that the decision to grant Greece more time “isn’t easy.”
“Solidarity doesn’t mean being susceptible to blackmail, it means everyone playing their own part,” Mr. Schäuble said, telling German lawmakers that “Greece can’t decide alone in Europe what the right path is.”
“We Germans have to do everything to keep Europe together,” Mr. Schäuble said.
The vote will take place later Friday. It is widely expected to pass after lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkel ’s conservative parties indicated broad support in a straw poll on Thursday. A positive vote is a condition of Germany’s approval for the extension.
Source: WSJ – Germany’s Finance Minister Calls on Lawmakers to Back Greek Bailout Extension
