Merkel leaves aid for Athens option open

German chancellor Angela Merkel sought to reassure voters that Greece would not need a debt write-down, but left open the option of more aid for Athens as she struggled to contain a dispute which could hurt her in next month’s election.

Finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble provoked a storm last week when he told a campaign rally that a new rescue for Greece was inevitable in comments that contradicted Merkel, who has said it is too early to discuss additional aid. The subject has dominated the election campaign ever since.

Merkel has tried to keep Greece out of her campaign to avoid angering Germans who fear they will foot the bill for more bailouts. She is tipped to win a third term in the Sept 22 poll partly because voters approve of her management of the eurozone crisis and her tough line with struggling states.