Merkel gets Bundestag to back bail-out

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, managed to secure the resounding backing of the Bundestag on the 27 February 2012 for a second financial aid package for Greece even after she warned that the success of the new programme was uncertain.

Ms Merkel said that she had sympathy for people who saw Greece as a 'bottomless pit' or 'a hopeless case' but she weighed the pros and cons of default and concluded that 'the opportunities in the new programme outweigh the risks' for Greece and the eurozone.

ESO: Background information: G20 to urge eurozone to increase ‘firewall’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/g20-to-urge-eurozone-to-increase-firewall/

Deutsche Welle, 27.2.12: Bundestag one of many hurdles for Greece http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15767842,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 27.2.12: German Parliament Approves Greek Bailout Package http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,817881,00.html

EUObserver, 27.2.12: German parliament agrees second bail-out for Greece http://euobserver.com/19/115393

Kathimerini, 27.2.12: German MPs approve new Greek bailout http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_6174_27/02/2012_430009

BBC News, 27.2.12: Greece bailout: German MPs give strong backing http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17176616

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