Greece bailout: German MPs back deal after Schaeuble appeal

19-Aug (BBC) — German MPs have voted by a large majority to approve a third bailout deal for Greece.

In total 453 members of parliament voted in favour, while 113 rejected the bailout and 18 abstained.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier warned MPs that it would be “irresponsible” to oppose the €86bn ($95bn; £61bn) package.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right conservative bloc has been divided over the deal.

Prior to the vote nearly 60 of her own MPs had indicated they would vote against the rescue package.

…Despite being one the harshest critics of Greece’s left-wing Syriza government, Germany’s finance minister told MPs before the vote that they should give Greece the opportunity of a new start.

Mr Schaeuble told parliament: “There is no guarantee that all of this will work and there can always be doubts.

“But considering the fact that the Greek parliament already approved most of the measures, it would be irresponsible not to seize this chance for a new beginning in Greece.”

[source]

PG View: Seems like this will be the third “new beginning” for Greece in the last 5-years. How will Germans feel when it comes time for the fourth “new beginning”.