European parliaments give the green light to negotiations with Greece – publico

                 

                         
                     

                         

                 

 
                         

The parliaments of Germany and Austria mandated their governments to be initiated negotiations with Greece in view of the third assistance program worth € 86 billion. Approvals were anticipated, but the resistance to a new bailout in Central and Northern Europe remain.

                     

                          In the Bundestag (lower house of German parliament), Chancellor Angela Merkel had a mission to justify before the members the need for a third bailout of Greece and, therefore, has become his speech at the “irresponsibility” that would not do and the “chaos” that would befall Europe.

The strong defense by the Chancellor of the decision taken at the last end-of-week contrasts with the position touched on by his minister Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble, still on the eve of parliamentary debate again allude to a temporary Greek exit from the euro zone. Although confidence in the powerful minister to remain steadfast – to Merkel thanked Schäuble during the speech, according to Reuters, -. The chancellor did not fail to echo the scenario that has been raised

“The alternative to this agreement would not be a ‘limited output’ of the euro (…) but a fairly predictable chaos. “” We would be highly negligent and would act irresponsibly if at least not tried this route, “said Angela Merkel. Knowing that spoke not only to their electorate, but also for all of Europe, Chancellor concluded that the decision to propose a new program for Greece was taken on behalf of “a strong Europe and a strong euro zone.”

Schäuble assured the Parliament that will be made every effort to “this last attempt to reach the success.” “We think there is a chance to be able to conclude the negotiations in a positive way,” added the minister, while acknowledging that it will be “quite complicated

The vice-chancellor and economy minister, Sigmar Gabriel, who is also leader of the Social Democrats, CDU allies in the executive stressed that the agreement allowed to avoid “a division of the whole of Europe” that would have led to “a much more serious crisis.”

German and Finnish say not

The start of negotiations for the agreement received the affirmative vote of a majority of MEPs (439) had the lead 119 and still abstaining 40 Members. But even in anniversary day, Angela Merkel saw 60 members of his party to vote against the appointment of the Government. It reminded Reuters that the number of conservatives to plumb a rescue program for Greece doubled compared to February, while the second was voted.

The day before, 48 members of the conservative bench had previously announced its lead. The rebellion of the CDU lawmakers is evocative of a dominant feeling in German society – those who refuse to see their tax money being channeled to another rescue program for Greece. Since 2010, this was the sixth time that the German deputies were called to express their opinions regarding a Greek bailout program.

A survey of British institute YouGov published on election day showed that 56 % of 1380 respondents negative Germans considered the agreement reached at the end-of-week – a cross feeling the supporters of all parties, albeit for different reasons. “The Germans may oppose the agreement because they see it as unfair to Greece or because they preferred a tougher line,” write the study authors.

The best-selling tabloid country, the Bild , pointed “Seven reasons why the Bundestag should vote ‘No’ today” on its front page. Among them was, for example, the argument that “our grandchildren will pay” the new rescue. For the endorsement of the European leaders, the Greek authorities had to commit to a package of measures under conditions of extreme hardship, including the rise in VAT and reforms of the pension system and labor laws.

Sensitive the general idea that prevails among his electorate, Merkel acknowledged that the agreement “is hard for people in Greece, but also for others.” However, the Chancellor described this “last attempt” as a manifestation of “unprecedented solidarity” by some and “unprecedented demands” on the part of Greece. “

Among the Finns, the displeasure about the new program is even deeper. Only a quarter (26%) of respondents in a survey of Taloustutkimus Institute and cited by AFP provide support for the agreement, while the majority (57%) appears against. Despite the dominant feeling, the Finnish Parliament approved on Thursday the start of negotiations with Greece.