|
 Heeding
a call from Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to give Greece the
chance for a new start, conservative lawmakers rebelled in far fewer
numbers than some in the party had predicted.
Thanks in part to the support of the Social Democrats, Merkel's
junior coalition partner, and the opposition Greens, the package
sailed through the Bundestag lower house with 454 lawmakers voting
for, 113 against and 18 abstaining.
Resentment about sending more aid to Athens runs deep in Germany
which has already contributed more than any other euro zone country
to Greece's two previous bailouts since 2010. The third package is
worth 86 billion euros ($94.93 billion).
"The problem isn't a lack of European solidarity but a lack of Greek
efficiency," said conservative rebel Wolfgang Bosbach.
Reflecting popular misgivings and in a blow to Merkel's authority,
more than a fifth of her conservative bloc refused to back the
package.
A record 63 conservatives opposed it, three more than in last
month's vote on starting negotiations with Greece. A further three
abstained.
Schaeuble, Germany's toughest negotiator on the Greek bailout, led
calls for a 'yes' vote in the parliamentary debate.
"Of course, after the experience of the last years and months there
is no guarantee that everything will work and it is permissible to
have doubts," said Schaeuble.
"But in view of the fact that the Greek parliament has already
passed a large part of the measures it would be irresponsible to not
use the opportunity for a new start in Greece," he said, making the
case for the government.
Schaeuble had taken a tougher line than Merkel in bailout talks.
Last month, he tabled the option of a 'timeout' from the euro zone
for Greece, before then throwing his weight behind the new bailout
plan.
Germany's BDI industry association said the vote sent a signal to
Greece that it could stay in the euro zone.
"The result ... is an important interim step to ensure a return to a
stable EU," said BDI chief Markus Kerber.
MERKEL STAYS MUM
Merkel sat impassively during the debate on the bailout, as Greens
co-leader Anton Hofreiter criticized her government for taking a
hard line in talks on the new bailout.
"A German government leadership that acts like that damages the
cohesion in Europe and thereby damages Germany by damaging our
standing in Europe," Hofreiter said to applause.
In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte will face a no
confidence motion on Wednesday, brought by his chief opposition
rival over a broken campaign pledge not to provide additional
emergency funding to Greece.
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"A German government leadership that acts like that damages the
cohesion in Europe and thereby damages Germany by damaging our
standing in Europe," Hofreiter said to applause.
In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte will face a no
confidence motion on Wednesday, brought by his chief opposition
rival over a broken campaign pledge not to provide additional
emergency funding to Greece.
On Tuesday, the parliaments of Austria, Estonia and Spain voted to
approve the bailout.
In Berlin, Schaeuble said Athens had clearly shifted ground in the
last few weeks and was ready to reform.
He also reiterated the German view that it is imperative for the
International Monetary Fund to stay on board. The IMF, however, says
it won't unless Greece gets debt relief, while Germany is against
cutting Greek debt.
"I am fairly confident that we (international creditors including
the IMF) will reach a joint assessment of (Greece's) debt
sustainability in October," said Schaeuble, reiterating that a debt
haircut is not possible.
Last month, a record 65 lawmakers from the conservative camp broke
ranks and refused to back the start of bailout talks.
On Tuesday, the parliaments of Austria, Estonia and Spain voted to
approve the bailout.
In Berlin, Schaeuble said Athens had clearly shifted ground in the
last few weeks and was ready to reform.
He also reiterated the German view that it is imperative for the
International Monetary Fund to stay on board. The IMF, however, says
it won't unless Greece gets debt relief, while Germany is against
cutting Greek debt.
"I am fairly confident that we (international creditors including
the IMF) will reach a joint assessment of (Greece's) debt
sustainability in October," said Schaeuble, reiterating that a debt
haircut is not possible.
(Additional reporting by Tina Bellon, Caroline Copley, Holger
Hansen; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Andrew Heavens)
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