German minister criticised for his comments on Greece

German vice chancellor Philipp Roesler has been criticised for resurrecting the possibility that Greece should leave the eurozone.

Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras took a swipe at Roesler, telling lawmakers in Athens yesterday that foreign officials who question his country’s ability to stay in the 17-nation eurozone are “irresponsible”.

At least one opposition lawmaker, Social Democratic Party budget expert Carsten Schneider, called for Roesler’s resignation.

Klaus-Peter Flosbach, a senior lawmaker in chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic-led bloc involved in finance policy, told the newspaper Handelsblatt that “there was absolutely no reason to start this debate now”.

The chorus of disapproval followed comments made by Roesler in a Jul 22 interview in which he said he is “very sceptical” Greece can be rescued.

Roesler, who is also economy minister and the chairman of Merkel’s Free Democratic Party coalition partner, said the possibility of Greece’s departure from the euro “long ago lost its terror”.

“Of course, there are some foreign officials who, every so often, come out and assume that Greece won’t make it,” Samaras said. “I consider them — I say openly and publicly — to be those who undermine the national effort.

“We are doing what we can to keep the country upright and they do whatever they can to ensure our failure.”

Schneider referred to the decision by Moody’s to lower the outlook on Germany’s credit rating in view of the potential financial fallout from any fragmentation of the union. “If the sworn-in economy minister of Germany so irresponsibly endangers taxpayer money, the chancellor has to let him go,” Schneider said.

Flosbach also referred to Moody’s decision in light of Roesler’s comments. “Speculation about Greece has immediate consequences for Germany, as can be seen with the judgement of one rating agency,” he said, according to Handelsblatt. “To that end, I’d advise us all to show more responsibility.”

Bloomberg