Berlin approves aid to Athens, Schaeuble opens: “You can lighten the debt” – The Republic

Milan – Germany closes to cut debt greek, but opens up to his relief with longer maturities. He said the German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, speaking before the Bundestag, which approved the bailout by 86 billion euro of Athens. The expected positive vote – arrived after the privatization of Hellenic 14 airports for the benefit of German Fraport – has been supported by a large majority: 454 in favor, 113 against and 18 abstentions (the voters were 558). The outcome seemed obvious, but was waiting to see how many were dissidents in the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has a majority of 504 of the 631 deputies, about fifty of the 311 elected from the ranks of the party of Merkel’s okay then his back to the Chancellor. The number of deputies opposed was lower than last month when the lower house was called to vote to restart the negotiations on the bailout plan: on that occasion the green light came with the opposition of 119 deputies.

Before the vote on the third floor of aid, the hawk Schaeuble intervened explaining that “the decision on Greece is not easy, and it is rightly been much discussed” because “up to a year ago Greece was on track”, but “it would be irresponsible not to use the opportunity of a new beginning”: “Vote for the approval of aid,” was his call.

The Minister, however, has also put the stakes on the ground. First, it is “essential” and “crucial” the participation of the IMF to the new aid program for Greece that will decide “in October its involvement in the program”, reiterated the impossibility to cut debt: “In October, in the light of timely payments, it will take judgments. I’m sure we could see an improvement in the situation and, if necessary, there will be a debt relief, through an extension of maturities. “

Today, meanwhile, also the Netherlands vote on the bailout of Athens and Prime Minister Mark Rutte does not exclude a possible vote of no confidence in his center-right government. A distrust of the executive will ask the parliamentary far-right and eurosceptic Geert Wilders. Difficult though that the motion steps, as the Liberal Party of Prime Minister, which met behind closed doors, has decided to support the aid to Greece (Netherlands belong 5 billion euro), although earlier the same liberals were assured that they would not shelled out a penny without the participation of the IMF program and the election campaign they had pledged not to grant further aid to Athens.

Arguments:

Greece crisis

Greek crisis

Bundestag vote

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