Merkel warning heeded as Greek bailout ratified

The German parliament yesterday approved a second, €130bn loan package for Greece after Angela Merkel, the chancellor, warned lawmakers that it would be irresponsible to abandon the country to bankruptcy.

Although the motion was always expected to be easily approved — the final tally yesterday was 496-90 with five abstentions — the idea of bailing out Greece has remained very unpopular in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy.

“The road that lies in front of Greece is long and truly not without risk,” Merkel told lawmakers before the vote. “That also goes for the success of the new programme — no one can give a 100% guarantee of success.”