July 19, 2011
Chancellor Angela Merkel, under fire in Germany for her perceived lack of leadership in the euro crisis, has received an unlikely offer of support -- from the opposition Social Democrats. The pledge, say German commentators, amounts to criticism of her European policy -- but she may need the help.
Germany's opposition center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) said on Monday it was ready to help Chancellor Angela Merkel tackle the euro crisis, provided that she pushes for strong, decisive measures to rescue Greece at a special European Union summit this Thursday.
The SPD said it would back her in the parliamentary vote on the second bailout package for Greece this autumn and would even support her in explaining potentially unpopular measures to the German public.
SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel, parliamentary group leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück said they had written to Merkel with a pledge of political support for "a strong and brave political signal."
Steinbrück, regarded as a potential SPD candidate to challenge Merkel in the next general election in 2013, said the EU's strategy of merely helping ailing euro members service their debts had failed. "It is important that the summit takes decisions that are comprehensive and strong," he told a joint news conference with Gabriel and Steinmeier on Monday. "The danger of contagion for other countries is greater than ever." Greece needs a debt restructuring with a debt cut of 40 to 50 percent, he said.
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