Germans overwhelmingly oppose further aid for Greece, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday, one day ahead of a vote in parliament on a new Greek bailout package where Chancellor Angela Merkel may be forced to rely on opposition support.
The poll by the Emnid Institute in Bild am Sonntag newspaper found 62 percent oppose a new 130 billion rescue package while 33 percent are in favor. A similar Emnid poll in September found 53 percent opposed and 43 percent in favor.
Merkel’s centre-right coalition faces a testing vote in parliament on Monday when at least a dozen deputies are expected to vote against the measure. It should still pass with ease because opposition parties will vote for it.
But the prospect of the ruling bloc failing to win a majority on its own would be a humiliating setback for Merkel, with some analysts and opposition leaders warning it could endanger her coalition.
Further signs of tension in the coalition emerged on Saturday when Merkel’s Interior Minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich, became the first member of her government to openly call for Greece to leave the euro zone.
Merkel’s government has 330 seats in the 620-seat parliament so Merkel can afford no more than 19 rebels if she is to deliver the 311-seat majority without relying on the opposition.
In a September 27 vote, there were 15 rebels in the coalition and Merkel got 315 votes from her coalition deputies.
(source: Reuters)
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
