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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/jul/17/greek-debt-crisis-germany-bailout-package-lagarde-debt-relief-live
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| Greek debt crisis: Angela Merkel urges German MPs to back bailout or see 'chaos' - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.28am BST10:28 | |
| Schäuble: We all agree Greece needs help | |
| Speaking rather passionately at times, Schäuble is asking MPs to support the bailout plan. | |
| We all know that Greece needs help. | |
| And thumping the lectern, Schäuble warns that this is the last attempt to deal with the “difficult task” of Greece. | |
| We must help #Greece & keep #Europe together - says @Wolf_Schauble in #Bundestag @France24_en pic.twitter.com/EsecOVBIrw | |
| Updated at 10.28am BST | |
| 10.21am BST10:21 | |
| It’s Wolfgang Schäuble’s turn to speak.... | |
| 10.16am BST10:16 | |
| Göring-Eckardt doesn’t share Angela Merkel’s appreciation for Schäuble’s tireless work..... | |
| German Green´s chairwoman Göring-Eckardt: "Mr. Schäuble, that you still insist on being right about a #Grexit, destroys trust in Europe!" | |
| 10.15am BST10:15 | |
| Reminder, you can watch the debate here. | |
| Katrin Göring-Eckardt of the Green party is now speaking, and criticising Merkel for taking such a hard line with Greece. She speaks of a Europe where the strong push the weak around. | |
| Göring-Eckardt: "Wir hatten den Eindruck, es ging plötzlich um ein Europa, wo die Stärkeren den Schwächeren diktieren" | |
| Merkel, though, is busy tapping away on her mobile. Answering birthday wishes, perhaps. | |
| Up now is @GoeringEckardt of the #Greens. Says third bailout is "necessary, important and right". Praises Hollande and Renzi | |
| Göring-Eckardt says she is greatly relieved that it was not the "Deutsche Weg", the German path, that won out, therefore avoiding a #Grexit | |
| Göring-Eckardt: "The #IMF is right - Greece urgently needs a debt reduction". She refers to the post-war solidarity shown towards #Germany | |
| Göring-Eckardt: #Greece needs warmth not cold-heartedness from us. Says every Green vote is for a common and solidly united Europe | |
| Updated at 10.30am BST | |
| 10.14am BST10:14 | |
| We shouldn’t forget that Sigmar Gabriel was taking a much harder line on Greece earlier this month, warning that Greece had ‘torn down the last bridge” towards a compromise. What a difference a deal makes. | |
| Having shamefully been even more hawkish and harsher on #Greece than #Schauble it seems that @sigmargabriel is now striking a milder tone | |
| 10.06am BST10:06 | |
| Dep Chancellor @sigmargabriel straying off Greece theme: "Every baker in Berlin pays more taxes than Google, Amazon etc" | |
| 10.04am BST10:04 | |
| Sigmar Gabriel has reminded German MPs of the suffering in Greece: | |
| #Gabriel: The Greeks are our friends. We cannot allow hungry children, begging pensioners, soup kitchens. 3rd prog is necessary. #Greece | |
| 10.01am BST10:01 | |
| Kate Connolly | |
| Here’s a summary of the second half of Merkel’s speech: | |
| Merkel told the Bundestag that Greece’s expressions of intention were not enough. It was necessary to see deeds. | |
| Talking of the marathon of negotiations that went on over days, nights and hours, she then bestowed her praise on her finance minister Wolfgang Schauble, telling him “a very fulsome thank you”. The Bundestag reacted with a sea of applause. | |
| Merkel went on to stress that the only alternative to the deal would have been “predictable chaos”. | |
| Many people, she said, had “doubt and worries” as to whether Greece had the strength to emerge from its crisis. | |
| “But I’m convinced we’d be irresponsible if we didn’t at least try this way”.Europe is strong and robust, she said. Germany too. But in the long term, Germany can only do well if Europe does well. | |
| She then stressed how the crisis had proved the strength of the Franco-German relationship, because DESPITE all their many differences, now and in the past, they had managed to come together. | |
| This she said, should be an example of how the whole of Europe should work. | |
| She predicted that Europe would “come out of this stronger than it went in” five years ago. | |
| Then she concluded by making the issue far more global. Issues such as Ukraine, the refugee crisis and terrorism were pressing and when the decision was made on Greece “I can only say we didn’t just decide about Greece”… this is a decision about having a strong Europe, and much more was at stake than just the Eurozone. | |
| And finally, in a direct address to her domestic audience, she concluded her address by saying: | |
| “We’re doing this for Greece, as much as for the German people.” | |
| Updated at 10.01am BST | |
| 9.56am BST09:56 | |
| Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s vice-chancellor (and the most senior social democrat in the coalition) speaks next. | |
| Gabriel says it is vital that Grexit is now off the table. But he also criticises the first two Greek bailouts, saying they haven’t helped: | |
| Gabriel: IMF analysis clearly says Europe and Greece needs investment and growth, and we (the SPD) agree #Germany #Greece | |
| 9.50am BST09:50 | 9.50am BST09:50 |
| Summary: Merkel warns of chaos if no deal | Summary: Merkel warns of chaos if no deal |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Angela Merkel stressed that trust had broken down and the challenge of the past few days has been to try and reconstruct that trust. | Angela Merkel stressed that trust had broken down and the challenge of the past few days has been to try and reconstruct that trust. |
| “We had three possibilities,” she told the Bundestag, at the start of today’s debate on the Greek aid package. | “We had three possibilities,” she told the Bundestag, at the start of today’s debate on the Greek aid package. |
| 1. To bend the rules so far that they would not have been worth anything any more. But such a process would have meant the end of Europe’s ‘state of law’ (Rechtsstaat) and was therefore not something that the German government could sanction. | 1. To bend the rules so far that they would not have been worth anything any more. But such a process would have meant the end of Europe’s ‘state of law’ (Rechtsstaat) and was therefore not something that the German government could sanction. |
| 2. We give up and don’t have another attempt at saving Greece. We would have looked on as Greece haemorrhaged, as people were unable to get money any more, and chaos ensued. | 2. We give up and don’t have another attempt at saving Greece. We would have looked on as Greece haemorrhaged, as people were unable to get money any more, and chaos ensued. |
| As Merkel put it: | As Merkel put it: |
| “The alternative to this agreement would not be a ‘time-out’ from the euro ... but rather predictable chaos.” | “The alternative to this agreement would not be a ‘time-out’ from the euro ... but rather predictable chaos.” |
| That was also not an option for us. And the whole Bundestag was in agreement with that. | That was also not an option for us. And the whole Bundestag was in agreement with that. |
| We would look to a temporary time-out of the Eurozone for Greece. But this could only have happened with Greece’s approval and that of the 18 other countries. But just as the 18 were not up for this, neither was Greece.(Actually, then it seems as if she makes 4 points, but she calls this the third:). | We would look to a temporary time-out of the Eurozone for Greece. But this could only have happened with Greece’s approval and that of the 18 other countries. But just as the 18 were not up for this, neither was Greece.(Actually, then it seems as if she makes 4 points, but she calls this the third:). |
| 3. We try one last time to see whether it’s possible after all to reach a solution with all 19 on board. | 3. We try one last time to see whether it’s possible after all to reach a solution with all 19 on board. |
| She says that despite all the setbacks, that’s what has happened. Based on the values of national responsibility and European solidarity. | She says that despite all the setbacks, that’s what has happened. Based on the values of national responsibility and European solidarity. |
| That’s the way we decided to work together with Greece to find a way out of its cul de sac. | |
| She then said that it wasn’t the people of Greece who were responsible for their “misery”. | She then said that it wasn’t the people of Greece who were responsible for their “misery”. |
| She said it was wrong to see that taking the road of reforms and austerity would only strangle Greece, saying that the way in which Ireland, Portugal and Spain dealt with their crises, was proof that there was another prospect in sight. | She said it was wrong to see that taking the road of reforms and austerity would only strangle Greece, saying that the way in which Ireland, Portugal and Spain dealt with their crises, was proof that there was another prospect in sight. |
| Updated at 10.20am BST | |
| 9.46am BST09:46 | 9.46am BST09:46 |
| 9.44am BST09:44 | 9.44am BST09:44 |
| Gysi cites The Telegraph: 'Germany has achieved dominance in Europe without a single shot being fired' to groans and boos in #Bundestag. | Gysi cites The Telegraph: 'Germany has achieved dominance in Europe without a single shot being fired' to groans and boos in #Bundestag. |
| Try quoting the Guardian next time, Gregor.... | Try quoting the Guardian next time, Gregor.... |
| 9.43am BST09:43 | 9.43am BST09:43 |
| Gregor Gysi, the head of the left-wing Linke party is now speaking, and warning that the German government has made terrible mistakes. | Gregor Gysi, the head of the left-wing Linke party is now speaking, and warning that the German government has made terrible mistakes. |
| Amid heckling, he criticises Merkel for allowing Schäuble to push his idea of a temporary Grexit. | Amid heckling, he criticises Merkel for allowing Schäuble to push his idea of a temporary Grexit. |
| Gysi also reminds MPs that Germany has done awfully well out of the euro, making its exports more competitive. | Gysi also reminds MPs that Germany has done awfully well out of the euro, making its exports more competitive. |
| #Gysi: Merkel you are seen as a strong woman - but Schaueble has been chancellor recently, pushing 'scandalous' ideas of #Grexit. | #Gysi: Merkel you are seen as a strong woman - but Schaueble has been chancellor recently, pushing 'scandalous' ideas of #Grexit. |
| #Gysi: Germany needs the Euro more than #Greece. You know this Schaueble but daren't say it. | #Gysi: Germany needs the Euro more than #Greece. You know this Schaueble but daren't say it. |
| 9.36am BST09:36 | 9.36am BST09:36 |
| 9.34am BST09:34 | 9.34am BST09:34 |
| MPs listened in respectful silence during Merkel’s speech - such a contrast with Wednesday night’s drama in Athens (or your average Prime Minister’s Questions in London). | MPs listened in respectful silence during Merkel’s speech - such a contrast with Wednesday night’s drama in Athens (or your average Prime Minister’s Questions in London). |
| And they give her a rousing round of applause as she exits the lecturn. | And they give her a rousing round of applause as she exits the lecturn. |
| 9.33am BST09:33 | 9.33am BST09:33 |
| Angela Merkel ends her speech by assuring MPs that Europe will come out of this crisis stronger. | Angela Merkel ends her speech by assuring MPs that Europe will come out of this crisis stronger. |
| #Merkel: We have not only decided about #Greece. This is for a strong Europe and a strong EZ. | #Merkel: We have not only decided about #Greece. This is for a strong Europe and a strong EZ. |
| 9.32am BST09:32 | 9.32am BST09:32 |
| Merkel insists that the Greek deal is the only option, the alternative is chaos. | Merkel insists that the Greek deal is the only option, the alternative is chaos. |
| Her message to doubtful MPs is that we must give Greece a chance, and reminds them that Germany’s success is tied up with Europe’s. | Her message to doubtful MPs is that we must give Greece a chance, and reminds them that Germany’s success is tied up with Europe’s. |
| She admits there were disagreements with Paris: | She admits there were disagreements with Paris: |
| #Merkel: Germany & France has had very different opinions. But we can find ways to agree and show the way to others in Europe. #Greece | #Merkel: Germany & France has had very different opinions. But we can find ways to agree and show the way to others in Europe. #Greece |
| 9.29am BST09:29 | 9.29am BST09:29 |
| Hearty applause for #Schauble in #Bundestag | Hearty applause for #Schauble in #Bundestag |
| 9.27am BST09:27 | 9.27am BST09:27 |
| Applause ripples across the debating chamber as Merkel thanks Schäuble for working “tirelessly”. | Applause ripples across the debating chamber as Merkel thanks Schäuble for working “tirelessly”. |
| 9.26am BST09:26 | 9.26am BST09:26 |
| Merkel is now criticising Alexis Tsipras’s government for sending the Greek economy into reverse this year -- but she’s encouraged by Wednesday night’s vote: | Merkel is now criticising Alexis Tsipras’s government for sending the Greek economy into reverse this year -- but she’s encouraged by Wednesday night’s vote: |
| #Greece: Greece had to pass laws to talk about 3rd programme. Greek parl has by impressive majority passed these reforms. | #Greece: Greece had to pass laws to talk about 3rd programme. Greek parl has by impressive majority passed these reforms. |
| 9.24am BST09:24 | 9.24am BST09:24 |
| On debt relief, Merkel says that haircuts are not allowed within the eurozone. | On debt relief, Merkel says that haircuts are not allowed within the eurozone. |
| 9.22am BST09:22 | 9.22am BST09:22 |
| Merkel: Temporary Grexit was not supported | Merkel: Temporary Grexit was not supported |
| Merkel admits that her finance minister’s plan for a “temporary time-out” from the eurozone was a non-starter: | Merkel admits that her finance minister’s plan for a “temporary time-out” from the eurozone was a non-starter: |
| #Merkel: Allowing #Greece to leave EZ would have been a end to European solidarity. We would not have allowed it. | #Merkel: Allowing #Greece to leave EZ would have been a end to European solidarity. We would not have allowed it. |
| #Merkel: The temporary #Grexit plan was not favored by #Greece nor by other EZ members. We could not have allowed this. | #Merkel: The temporary #Grexit plan was not favored by #Greece nor by other EZ members. We could not have allowed this. |
| 9.20am BST09:20 | 9.20am BST09:20 |
| Merkel is covering some familiar themes, saying that trust in Greece has been lost recently. | Merkel is covering some familiar themes, saying that trust in Greece has been lost recently. |
| Solidarity and reforms must go together | Solidarity and reforms must go together |
| We could not simply give into all Greece’s demands, as they would have violated European treaties. | We could not simply give into all Greece’s demands, as they would have violated European treaties. |
| 9.19am BST09:19 | 9.19am BST09:19 |
| #Merkel: #Tsipras won w/2 promises 1) to end austerity 2) that #Greece would remain in EZ. They cannot exist together. | #Merkel: #Tsipras won w/2 promises 1) to end austerity 2) that #Greece would remain in EZ. They cannot exist together. |
| 9.18am BST09:18 | 9.18am BST09:18 |
| Angela Merkel opens the debate, telling MPs that Europe has seen unprecedented drama in Greece in recent days. | Angela Merkel opens the debate, telling MPs that Europe has seen unprecedented drama in Greece in recent days. |
| After MPs wish #Merkel a happy birthday she takes to the podium. Talks of dramatic days "a degree of drama for Greece that cannot be topped" | After MPs wish #Merkel a happy birthday she takes to the podium. Talks of dramatic days "a degree of drama for Greece that cannot be topped" |
| Merkel cites the bank closures and capital controls which Greece has now experienced for almost three weeks: | Merkel cites the bank closures and capital controls which Greece has now experienced for almost three weeks: |
| #Merkel: Can you imagine how it would be if German pensioners were lining up to get their monthly pension? #Greece | #Merkel: Can you imagine how it would be if German pensioners were lining up to get their monthly pension? #Greece |
| 9.15am BST09:15 | 9.15am BST09:15 |
| German debate begins | German debate begins |
| The debate is getting underway now -- live feed here. | The debate is getting underway now -- live feed here. |
| #Greece debate starts in German Bundestag with President Lammert wishing Angela #Merkel a happy birthday. | #Greece debate starts in German Bundestag with President Lammert wishing Angela #Merkel a happy birthday. |
| 9.11am BST09:11 | 9.11am BST09:11 |
| Norbert Lammert’s voice breaks as he says that with Philipp Missfelder’s death, “the Bundestag has lost an engaged and respected parliamentarian”. | Norbert Lammert’s voice breaks as he says that with Philipp Missfelder’s death, “the Bundestag has lost an engaged and respected parliamentarian”. |
| Updated at 9.13am BST | Updated at 9.13am BST |
| 9.10am BST09:10 | 9.10am BST09:10 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| German MPs are now in the chamber. | German MPs are now in the chamber. |
| Merkel who is celebrating her 61st birthday today, has been given a bouquet of flowers. Most of the 630 MPs have just come from the funeral of the 35 year old CDU politician Philipp Missfelder, who died suddenly from a lung embolism earlier this week, leaving a wife and two young children. | Merkel who is celebrating her 61st birthday today, has been given a bouquet of flowers. Most of the 630 MPs have just come from the funeral of the 35 year old CDU politician Philipp Missfelder, who died suddenly from a lung embolism earlier this week, leaving a wife and two young children. |
| That’s why many of them are dressed in black. | That’s why many of them are dressed in black. |
| Norbert Lammert, the Bundestag president is now paying tribute to the politician, who was a rising star in the party. | Norbert Lammert, the Bundestag president is now paying tribute to the politician, who was a rising star in the party. |
| Updated at 9.40am BST | Updated at 9.40am BST |
| 9.06am BST09:06 | 9.06am BST09:06 |
| Greek deal is 'poisonous cocktail' | Greek deal is 'poisonous cocktail' |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Sahra Wagenknecht of the left-wing Linke party has just told German television that whilst her party wouldn’t deny Greece needs widespread reform, the German government’s approach is a complete fudge. | Sahra Wagenknecht of the left-wing Linke party has just told German television that whilst her party wouldn’t deny Greece needs widespread reform, the German government’s approach is a complete fudge. |
| “This is not a Hilfspaket - a package to help Greece - it’s a poisonous cocktail”. | “This is not a Hilfspaket - a package to help Greece - it’s a poisonous cocktail”. |
| Updated at 9.06am BST | Updated at 9.06am BST |
| 8.56am BST08:56 | 8.56am BST08:56 |
| Tusk fears political contagion from Greek crisis | Tusk fears political contagion from Greek crisis |
| Donald Tusk, the European Council president, has warned that the Greek crisis is helping to fuel a “pre-revolutionary atmosphere” in Europe. | Donald Tusk, the European Council president, has warned that the Greek crisis is helping to fuel a “pre-revolutionary atmosphere” in Europe. |
| Tusk who brokered the Greek bailout deal last weekend, told the Financial Times that: | Tusk who brokered the Greek bailout deal last weekend, told the Financial Times that: |
| “For me, the atmosphere is a little similar to the time after 1968 in Europe.” | “For me, the atmosphere is a little similar to the time after 1968 in Europe.” |
| “I can feel, maybe not a revolutionary mood, but something like widespread impatience. When impatience becomes not an individual but a social experience of feeling, this is the introduction for revolutions.” | “I can feel, maybe not a revolutionary mood, but something like widespread impatience. When impatience becomes not an individual but a social experience of feeling, this is the introduction for revolutions.” |
| It’s that ideological and political “contagion” that really worries Tusk, not just the financial contagion that Greece could cause. | It’s that ideological and political “contagion” that really worries Tusk, not just the financial contagion that Greece could cause. |
| Those of you who are disillusioned with the status quo might welcome a repeat of the heady days of the 60’s, of course. But the rise of Golden Dawn in Greece has shown what can happen when mainstream parties lose their way.... | Those of you who are disillusioned with the status quo might welcome a repeat of the heady days of the 60’s, of course. But the rise of Golden Dawn in Greece has shown what can happen when mainstream parties lose their way.... |
| Tusk's warning. Trust a good Pole to know what it means to be ravaged by extreme-right & extreme-left all at once http://t.co/MOgE138Myo | Tusk's warning. Trust a good Pole to know what it means to be ravaged by extreme-right & extreme-left all at once http://t.co/MOgE138Myo |
| "In fact, it looked like an anti-German demonstration." @DonaldTusk on @atsipras in #EU parliament. Intvw transcript: http://t.co/eEPeIeGeND | "In fact, it looked like an anti-German demonstration." @DonaldTusk on @atsipras in #EU parliament. Intvw transcript: http://t.co/eEPeIeGeND |
| 8.40am BST08:40 | 8.40am BST08:40 |
| Germany isn’t the only eurozone country asking its MPs to vote on the Greek bailout plan. | Germany isn’t the only eurozone country asking its MPs to vote on the Greek bailout plan. |
| Austria is also due to debate it today, and likely to approve the deal. | Austria is also due to debate it today, and likely to approve the deal. |
| Both Latvia and Estonia are expected to take it to parliament too. Other country’s have already given their assent; France even voted before Greece! | Both Latvia and Estonia are expected to take it to parliament too. Other country’s have already given their assent; France even voted before Greece! |
| Here’s a full explanation: | Here’s a full explanation: |
| Related: Which countries still need to approve a Greek bailout – and how will they vote? | Related: Which countries still need to approve a Greek bailout – and how will they vote? |
| Updated at 9.00am BST | Updated at 9.00am BST |
| 8.32am BST08:32 | 8.32am BST08:32 |
| Row brewing over Schäuble's Grexit plan | Row brewing over Schäuble's Grexit plan |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| The ‘temporary Grexit’ proposal presented by Wolfgang Schäuble at last weekend’s Brussels summit is likely to dominate this morning’s debate. | The ‘temporary Grexit’ proposal presented by Wolfgang Schäuble at last weekend’s Brussels summit is likely to dominate this morning’s debate. |
| Kate Connolly reports: | Kate Connolly reports: |
| There are ever louder rumblings here this morning of a growing split in the coalition government focused on a fallout between SPD chief Sigmar Gabriel and finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble of the CDU as to who knew what and when about Schäuble’s Grexit paper. | There are ever louder rumblings here this morning of a growing split in the coalition government focused on a fallout between SPD chief Sigmar Gabriel and finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble of the CDU as to who knew what and when about Schäuble’s Grexit paper. |
| The issue is likely to dominate today’s debate in the Bundestag. | The issue is likely to dominate today’s debate in the Bundestag. |
| Gabriel says the Grexit plan was presented at Brussels by Schauble as if he had approved of it, when he says he hadn’t. | Gabriel says the Grexit plan was presented at Brussels by Schauble as if he had approved of it, when he says he hadn’t. |
| Schäuble insists Gabriel had agreed on it beforehand. The word ‘liar’ is being bandied about....... | Schäuble insists Gabriel had agreed on it beforehand. The word ‘liar’ is being bandied about....... |
| The debate begins in 30 minutes.... | The debate begins in 30 minutes.... |
| Bundestag debate on #Greece to start soon. Forget caricatures & watch how interesting+diversified German politics is: http://t.co/uw8xUpJ8g4 | Bundestag debate on #Greece to start soon. Forget caricatures & watch how interesting+diversified German politics is: http://t.co/uw8xUpJ8g4 |
| 8.13am BST08:13 | 8.13am BST08:13 |
| Visitors to Greece are already feeling the impact of the austerity measures which creditors demanded, in return for opening talks on a third bailout: | Visitors to Greece are already feeling the impact of the austerity measures which creditors demanded, in return for opening talks on a third bailout: |
| Looks like action is underway. This letter has just been slipped under hotel room door in #Greece @BBCBusiness pic.twitter.com/1drAU6wQ8h | Looks like action is underway. This letter has just been slipped under hotel room door in #Greece @BBCBusiness pic.twitter.com/1drAU6wQ8h |
| 8.11am BST08:11 | 8.11am BST08:11 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Around 50 German MPs from Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance are expected to revolt against the government and vote no to a third Greek bailout in the Bundestag today. | Around 50 German MPs from Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance are expected to revolt against the government and vote no to a third Greek bailout in the Bundestag today. |
| My colleague Kate Connolly in Berlin reports: | My colleague Kate Connolly in Berlin reports: |
| In what is expected to be a heated and emotional debate, the 6th time in five years that the German parliament has taken a decision directly relating to the Greek crisis, the rebels say they will vote ‘nein’ out of anger at the German chancellor’s decision to offer Greece another bailout, having signalled at one point that she was willing to push for Greece to leave the Eurozone. | In what is expected to be a heated and emotional debate, the 6th time in five years that the German parliament has taken a decision directly relating to the Greek crisis, the rebels say they will vote ‘nein’ out of anger at the German chancellor’s decision to offer Greece another bailout, having signalled at one point that she was willing to push for Greece to leave the Eurozone. |
| Other MPs are furious over the way Germany is seen to have acted towards Greece during the negotiations: | Other MPs are furious over the way Germany is seen to have acted towards Greece during the negotiations: |
| In a taster of what might come on Friday, Reinhard Bütikofer, a Green MEP, accused Schäuble of giving Germany a “heartless, imperious, and hideous” face. | In a taster of what might come on Friday, Reinhard Bütikofer, a Green MEP, accused Schäuble of giving Germany a “heartless, imperious, and hideous” face. |
| 8.02am BST08:02 | 8.02am BST08:02 |
| Today’s vote isn’t in doubt because of the size of Germany’s grand coalition between Merkel’s CDU/CSU and the SPD. | Today’s vote isn’t in doubt because of the size of Germany’s grand coalition between Merkel’s CDU/CSU and the SPD. |
| Germany to give verdict on Greece. Vote in Bundestag will pass as CDU/SPD coal w/ big majority http://t.co/g1ZuWVIJvj pic.twitter.com/hcyFhTvIIA | Germany to give verdict on Greece. Vote in Bundestag will pass as CDU/SPD coal w/ big majority http://t.co/g1ZuWVIJvj pic.twitter.com/hcyFhTvIIA |
| 8.00am BST08:00 | 8.00am BST08:00 |
| One of Angela Merkel’s close allies has already pledged to vote in favour of negotiating a third Greek bailout: | One of Angela Merkel’s close allies has already pledged to vote in favour of negotiating a third Greek bailout: |
| Gunther Krichbaum (CDU mucky muck) tells ARD he will vote YES in the Bundestag, for anyone whipping the #Greece vote on trading floors. | Gunther Krichbaum (CDU mucky muck) tells ARD he will vote YES in the Bundestag, for anyone whipping the #Greece vote on trading floors. |
| 7.59am BST07:59 | 7.59am BST07:59 |
| Lagarde: Greece needs debt relief | Lagarde: Greece needs debt relief |
| Greece’s bailout package simply isn’t viable unless the country is given significant debt relief to make its borrowings sustainable. | Greece’s bailout package simply isn’t viable unless the country is given significant debt relief to make its borrowings sustainable. |
| That’s the message from International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde this morning. She told France’s Europe 1 radio station that only a “complete package” would lure the Fund back to help: | That’s the message from International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde this morning. She told France’s Europe 1 radio station that only a “complete package” would lure the Fund back to help: |
| “This complete package has two legs, a Greek leg that entails an in-depth reform of the Greek economy. | “This complete package has two legs, a Greek leg that entails an in-depth reform of the Greek economy. |
| “That means holding a budgetary position that is sound and gives the country solidity; and the second leg is that of the lenders, which entails supplying financing and restructuring the debt to ease its burden.” | “That means holding a budgetary position that is sound and gives the country solidity; and the second leg is that of the lenders, which entails supplying financing and restructuring the debt to ease its burden.” |
| ECB chief Mario Draghi made the same point yesterday, and indeed the Greek aid deal does include a pledge to consider debt relief. But whether eurozone governments can face giving Greece a 30-year grace period isn’t yet clear. | ECB chief Mario Draghi made the same point yesterday, and indeed the Greek aid deal does include a pledge to consider debt relief. But whether eurozone governments can face giving Greece a 30-year grace period isn’t yet clear. |
| Lagarde IMF says eurozone creditors Greece bailout is not 'viable' without debt relief. Draghi ECB agrees. Why this EU charade? #Grexit | Lagarde IMF says eurozone creditors Greece bailout is not 'viable' without debt relief. Draghi ECB agrees. Why this EU charade? #Grexit |
| Updated at 8.06am BST | Updated at 8.06am BST |
| 7.50am BST07:50 | 7.50am BST07:50 |
| Introduction: Merkel celebrates birthday with Greek vote | Introduction: Merkel celebrates birthday with Greek vote |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Greece’s bitterly fought and generally flawed bailout plan faces another hurdle this morning -- approval from Germany. | Greece’s bitterly fought and generally flawed bailout plan faces another hurdle this morning -- approval from Germany. |
| MPs will head to the Bundestag this morning for a debate on whether to open talks on a third aid package. | MPs will head to the Bundestag this morning for a debate on whether to open talks on a third aid package. |
| Spoiler alert: they will give their assent, despite misgivings in Germany about the package. But there will be a rebellion among Merkel’s CDU party, with some MPs firmly believing Greece should quit the currency union, and doubting its ability or commitment to reform. | Spoiler alert: they will give their assent, despite misgivings in Germany about the package. But there will be a rebellion among Merkel’s CDU party, with some MPs firmly believing Greece should quit the currency union, and doubting its ability or commitment to reform. |
| The debate starts at 10am in Berlin (so 9am BST or 11am in Greece). | The debate starts at 10am in Berlin (so 9am BST or 11am in Greece). |
| Die Sondersitzung im #Bundestag zu den #GriechenlandHilfen wird um 10 Uhr live auf http://t.co/Owk1pEJsVJ übertragen. pic.twitter.com/NjpVZQfnUU | Die Sondersitzung im #Bundestag zu den #GriechenlandHilfen wird um 10 Uhr live auf http://t.co/Owk1pEJsVJ übertragen. pic.twitter.com/NjpVZQfnUU |
| Incidentally, it’s Angela Merkel’s 61st birthday today. I somewhat doubt whether Alexis Tsipras sent a card, after his hoofing in Brussels last weekend. Perhaps he’d like to give her the bumps instead. | Incidentally, it’s Angela Merkel’s 61st birthday today. I somewhat doubt whether Alexis Tsipras sent a card, after his hoofing in Brussels last weekend. Perhaps he’d like to give her the bumps instead. |
| Let’s just hope no-one sings Happy Birthday to her, after last year’s little incident: | Let’s just hope no-one sings Happy Birthday to her, after last year’s little incident: |
| We’ll be tracking all the main developments as usual (in the Greek crisis, not Angela’s birthday) | We’ll be tracking all the main developments as usual (in the Greek crisis, not Angela’s birthday) |