PARIS Angela Merkel was able to sleep well last night. German MPs approved yesterday by a large majority in extraordinary session third plan for Greece
Contrary to what many advertised the resistance of conservatives against decisions of his boss, the German chancellor, was relatively limited. In total, 453 of 631 deputies supported this plan which provides for aid to Greece of 86,000 million euros in three years. Only 113 representatives voted against and 18 abstained.
“Merkel has ceased to have opposition,” summed up last night a source at the French presidency to discuss the political success of the German Chancellor. Especially in European issues, for which usually get the support of the Greens.
Among those who decided not to vote for the plan there were 63 Conservative MPs who have 311 seats. Another 17 of the same field, did not participate in the vote and three abstentions.
Merkel, present in the Bundestag, made the task of defending the plan to his finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, the man who , it is no mystery to anyone, always thought that the best solution for the Eurozone is Greece leaving the single currency.
“While no one can guarantee that this time it will work, it would be irresponsible not to help Greece “said the minister. Schauble reminded the assembly that Athens has launched in recent days all the measures required for their new creditors: the European Central Bank (ECB), European Commission (EC), the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and probably the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which should announce its participation before October.
According to a Forsa Institute poll last week, 84% of Germans do not have Greek confidence to implement reforms
Among those measures, the Greek government of Alexis Tsipras yesterday formalized the sale of 14 regional airports to German consortium Fraport-Slentel 1230 million. The operation had been approved by the previous government, and frozen after the January elections, when the first of radical left took power.
“It’s not easy, but is at stake construction and structure monetary union, “Schauble said. “If Greece is facing its responsibilities and if the program is implemented fully and decisively, the Greek economy could grow in the coming years,” he added. Germany must contribute 23,000 million euros to the plan.
Schauble admitted, not without satisfaction, that Tsipras “had to do the opposite of what he promised” to their electorate, but the reforms have worked in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus.
For Greece, the adoption of that plan was vital to reimburse significant maturities in the near future. The first is due today, when you pay 3.4 billion euros at the ECB. The Bundestag had approved the July 17 start of negotiations on the current aid program. The lower house itself was granted: the current “grand coalition” governing Germany and gathers Social Democrats (SPD) and the Union of Christian Democrats (CDU) and its Bavarian ally Merkel (CSU) has 504 seats on 631.
In recent weeks, although the SPD and the opposition supported the aid program, discontent grew in the conservative ranks, despite the enormous sacrifices imposed on the Greek people. Annoyingly materialized in these 63 not yesterday, that is, three more than the 17 July.
To return the rebels to the fold sheep, the general secretary of the CDU, Peter Tauber, warned to vote against the plan “would be the same as backstabbing Chancellor”, whose popularity exceeds 70% and who many analysts attribute from and to a fourth term in the legislative elections of 2017.
Supporters the unresponsive to public opinion convinced of having “paid too much” for Greece. According to a survey by the Forsa institute published last week, 84% of Germans do not trust the Greeks to implement reforms and 57% was against the third aid plan. However, according to a recent study by the Leibnitz Institute for Economic Research (IWH), Germany won 100,000 million euros to the Greek debt crisis.
The German resistance is also encouraged by the IMF, which is He is given until October to decide whether to participate in this third program of assistance. The international body conditions its agreement to a reduction of the colossal Greek debt, which judges “unsustainable”.
The German conservatives and public opinion in general strongly oppose that demand, but want to have the IMF to consider that, by its independence and rigor, ensuring that the loans granted to Athens will be refunded. .
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