Suggestions that Greece should leave the euro currency union drew criticism from the German government, including from Chancellor Angela Merkel, who issued a statement to members of her coalition saying that the harsh rhetoric needs to stop.
“We’re in a very decisive phase in the fight against the euro debt crisis at the moment,” she said, according to Der Spiegel, citing a local broadcaster. “My request: everyone should weigh their words very carefully.”
Merkel delivered the relatively blunt message after a politician in her coalition, Alexander Dobrindt, said that he is “convinced that there is no way to avoid a Greek exit from the euro zone,” according to Der Spiegel. “I see Greece outside the euro zone in 2013,” he added. His sentiment is shared by many in Germany.
The bailout of Greece is a contentious issue in Germany, with many politicians and Germans criticizing the move because they feel their country is being taken advantage of. Last week, Greece Prime Minister Antonis Samaras gave an interview to prominent German newspaper Bild, addressing those concerns.
Over the past several weeks, German conservative politicians have suggested that Greece leave the 17-nation monetary union, saying it would be easy to manage.
Samaras said that Greece needs “room to breathe” amid the crisis his country is facing, according to an interview published by the Bild newspaper. “We have to get out of this negative psychology, which is like a deep black hole,” he added.
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